How to Write 隷 (slave, servant, prisoner, criminal, follower) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 16-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 隷 (“slave, servant, prisoner, criminal, follower”), indexed under the 隶 (れいづくり (slave)) radical. Practice 隷 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 隷う (したがう (shitagau) — slave), 隷 (しもべ (shimobe) — slave).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (隷)
Primary Radical (部首): 隶 — れいづくり (slave)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 隶
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ) when 隷 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (したが.う, しもべ) when 隷 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (16画): At 16 strokes, 隷 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 隶 (れいづくり (slave)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 16 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 隶 (れいづくり (slave))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 16 strokes under radical 隶.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 隷
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 隷 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 隷 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 隷 ("slave, servant, prisoner, criminal, follower") is written with 16 strokes (16画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 隶 (れいづくり (slave)) radical. At 16 strokes, 隷 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 隶 (れいづくり (slave)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 16 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 隷?
For 隷 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is レイ and the Kunyomi is したが.う, しもべ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ) when 隷 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (したが.う, しもべ) when 隷 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 隷 includes 隷う (したがう (shitagau) — slave), 隷 (しもべ (shimobe) — slave).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 隷 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 16 strokes of 隷 (slave, servant, prisoner, criminal, follower), start with the 隶 (れいづくり (slave)) 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 隷 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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