How to Write 防 (ward off, defend, protect, resist) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 防 (“ward off, defend, protect, resist”), indexed under the 阜 (こざとへん (hill/mound)) radical. Practice 防 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 防ぐ (ふせぐ (fusegu) — ward off).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (防)
Primary Radical (部首): 阜 — こざとへん (hill/mound)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 阜
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボウ) when 防 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ふせ.ぐ) when 防 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 防 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 阜 (こざとへん (hill/mound)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 阜 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
阜 (meaning) + 方 (sound ホウ)
Derived from the meaning radical 阜 (こざとへん (hill/mound)) and the phonetic component 方, giving the on-reading ホウ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 防
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 防 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 防 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 防 ("ward off, defend, protect, resist") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 阜 (こざとへん (hill/mound)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 防 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 阜 (こざとへん (hill/mound)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 阜 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 防?
For 防 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ボウ and the Kunyomi is ふせ.ぐ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボウ) when 防 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ふせ.ぐ) when 防 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 防 includes 防ぐ (ふせぐ (fusegu) — ward off).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 防 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 防 (ward off, defend, protect, resist), start with the 阜 (こざとへん (hill/mound)) 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 防 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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