How to Write 詩 (poem, poetry) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 詩 (“poem, poetry”), indexed under the 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) radical. Practice 詩 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 詩 (うた (uta) — poem).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (詩)
Primary Radical (部首): 言 — ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Speech, words, language, plans, and dialogue
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 詩 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うた) when 詩 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 詩 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
言 (meaning) + 寺 (sound ジ)
Derived from the meaning radical 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) and the phonetic component 寺, giving the on-reading ジ / シ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 詩
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 詩 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 詩 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 詩 ("poem, poetry") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) radical. At 13 strokes, 詩 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 詩?
For 詩 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is シ and the Kunyomi is うた. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 詩 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うた) when 詩 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 詩 includes 詩 (うた (uta) — poem).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 詩 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 詩 (poem, poetry), start with the 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 詩 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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