How to Write 道 (road-way, street, district, journey, course) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 道 (“road-way, street, district, journey, course”), indexed under the 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance)) radical. Practice 道 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 道 (みち (michi) — road-way), 道 (いう (iu) — road-way).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (道)
Primary Radical (部首): 辵 — しんにょう (road/advance)
Radical Position: Wrapping (Nyō / 繞) (繞 (Nyō))
Semantic Theme: Walking, movement, travel, progression, and distance
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ドウ, トウ) when 道 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (みち, いう) when 道 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 道 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance)) radical (Wrapping (Nyō / 繞) 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: 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 辵.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 道
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 道 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 道 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 道 ("road-way, street, district, journey, course") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance)) radical. At 12 strokes, 道 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance)) radical (Wrapping (Nyō / 繞) 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 道?
For 道 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is ドウ, トウ and the Kunyomi is みち, いう. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ドウ, トウ) when 道 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (みち, いう) when 道 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 道 includes 道 (みち (michi) — road-way), 道 (いう (iu) — road-way).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 道 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 道 (road-way, street, district, journey, course), start with the 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance)) in the Wrapping (Nyō / 繞) (繞 (Nyō)) 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 道 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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