How to Write 酒 (sake, alcohol) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 酒 (“sake, alcohol”), indexed under the 酉 (ひよみのとり (wine/sake)) radical. Practice 酒 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 酒 (さけ (sake) — sake), 酒 (さか (saka) — sake).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (酒)
Primary Radical (部首): 酉 — ひよみのとり (wine/sake)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 酉
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シュ) when 酒 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さけ, さか-) when 酒 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 酒 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 酉 (ひよみのとり (wine/sake)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 酉 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 酉 (ひよみのとり (wine/sake))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 10 strokes under radical 酉.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 酒
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 酒 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 酒 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 酒 ("sake, alcohol") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 酉 (ひよみのとり (wine/sake)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 酒 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 酉 (ひよみのとり (wine/sake)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 酉 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 酒?
For 酒 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is シュ and the Kunyomi is さけ, さか-. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シュ) when 酒 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さけ, さか-) when 酒 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 酒 includes 酒 (さけ (sake) — sake), 酒 (さか (saka) — sake).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 酒 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 酒 (sake, alcohol), start with the 酉 (ひよみのとり (wine/sake)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) 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 酒 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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