How to Write 車 (car, vehicle, wheel) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 車 (“car, vehicle, wheel”), indexed under the 車 (くるま (vehicle)) radical. Practice 車 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 車 (くるま (kuruma) — car), 電車 (でんしゃ (densha) — train), 自転車 (じてんしゃ (jitensha) — bicycle).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (車)
Primary Radical (部首): 車 — くるま (vehicle)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Carts, wagons, vehicles, wheels, and transport
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シャ) when 車 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くるま) when 車 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 車 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 車 (くるま (vehicle)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 車 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 車 (くるま (vehicle))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 7 strokes under radical 車.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 車
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 車 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 車 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 車 ("car, vehicle, wheel") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 車 (くるま (vehicle)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 車 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 車 (くるま (vehicle)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 車 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 車?
For 車 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is シャ and the Kunyomi is くるま. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シャ) when 車 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くるま) when 車 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 車 includes 車 (くるま (kuruma) — car), 電車 (でんしゃ (densha) — train), 自転車 (じてんしゃ (jitensha) — bicycle).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 車 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 車 (car, vehicle, wheel), start with the 車 (くるま (vehicle)) 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 車 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N5 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N5 Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!