How to Write 貞 (upright, chastity, constancy, righteousness) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 貞 (“upright, chastity, constancy, righteousness”), indexed under the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical. Practice 貞 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 貞い (ただしい (tadashii) — upright), 貞 (さだ (sada) — upright).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (貞)
Primary Radical (部首): 貝 — かい (shell)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Ancient cowrie money, commerce, buying, and wealth
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (テイ, ジョウ) when 貞 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ただし.い, さだ) when 貞 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 貞 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 貝 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 貝 (かい (shell))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 貝.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 貞
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 貞 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 貞 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 貞 ("upright, chastity, constancy, righteousness") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 貞 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 貝 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 貞?
For 貞 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is テイ, ジョウ and the Kunyomi is ただし.い, さだ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (テイ, ジョウ) when 貞 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ただし.い, さだ) when 貞 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 貞 includes 貞い (ただしい (tadashii) — upright), 貞 (さだ (sada) — upright).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 貞 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 貞 (upright, chastity, constancy, righteousness), start with the 貝 (かい (shell)) 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 貞 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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