How to Write 軽 (lightly, trifling, unimportant) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 軽 (“lightly, trifling, unimportant”), indexed under the 車 (くるま (cart/car)) radical. Practice 軽 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 軽い (かるい (karui) — lightly), 軽やか (かろやか (karoyaka) — lightly).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (軽)
Primary Radical (部首): 車 — くるま (cart/car)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Carts, wagons, vehicles, wheels, and transport
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケイ, キョウ, キン) when 軽 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かる.い, かろ.やか, かろ.んじる) when 軽 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 軽 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 車 (くるま (cart/car)) 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: 車 (くるま (cart/car))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 車.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 軽
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 軽 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 軽 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 軽 ("lightly, trifling, unimportant") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 車 (くるま (cart/car)) radical. At 12 strokes, 軽 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 車 (くるま (cart/car)) 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 軽?
For 軽 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ケイ, キョウ, キン and the Kunyomi is かる.い, かろ.やか, かろ.んじる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケイ, キョウ, キン) when 軽 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かる.い, かろ.やか, かろ.んじる) when 軽 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 軽 includes 軽い (かるい (karui) — lightly), 軽やか (かろやか (karoyaka) — lightly).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 軽 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 軽 (lightly, trifling, unimportant), start with the 車 (くるま (cart/car)) 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 軽 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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