How to Write 話 (tale, talk, speak) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 話 (“tale, talk, speak”), indexed under the 言 (ごんべん (words/speech)) radical. Practice 話 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 話す (はなす (hanasu) — to talk / speak), 電話 (でんわ (denwa) — telephone), 会話 (かいわ (kaiwa) — conversation).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (話)
Primary Radical (部首): 言 — ごんべん (words/speech)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Speech, words, language, plans, and dialogue
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ワ) when 話 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はな.す, はなし) when 話 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 話 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 言 (ごんべん (words/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)
Radical: 言 (ごんべん (words/speech))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 13 strokes under radical 言.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 話
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 話 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 話 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 話 ("tale, talk, speak") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 言 (ごんべん (words/speech)) radical. At 13 strokes, 話 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 言 (ごんべん (words/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 話?
For 話 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ワ and the Kunyomi is はな.す, はなし. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ワ) when 話 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はな.す, はなし) when 話 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 話 includes 話す (はなす (hanasu) — to talk / speak), 電話 (でんわ (denwa) — telephone), 会話 (かいわ (kaiwa) — conversation).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 話 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 話 (tale, talk, speak), start with the 言 (ごんべん (words/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 話 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N5 Characters to Practice Next
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