How to Write 費 (expense, cost, spend, consume, waste) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 費 (“expense, cost, spend, consume, waste”), indexed under the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical. Practice 費 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 費やす (ついやす (tsuiyasu) — expense), 費える (ついえる (tsuieru) — expense).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (費)
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 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヒ) when 費 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つい.やす, つい.える) when 費 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 費 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 貝 (かい (shell))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 貝.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 費
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 費 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 費 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 費 ("expense, cost, spend, consume, waste") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical. At 12 strokes, 費 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 費?
For 費 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ヒ and the Kunyomi is つい.やす, つい.える. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヒ) when 費 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つい.やす, つい.える) when 費 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 費 includes 費やす (ついやす (tsuiyasu) — expense), 費える (ついえる (tsuieru) — expense).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 費 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 費 (expense, cost, spend, consume, waste), 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 費 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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