How to Write 零 (zero, spill, overflow, nothing, cipher) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 零 (“zero, spill, overflow, nothing, cipher”), indexed under the 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) radical. Practice 零 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 零 (ぜろ (zero) — zero), 零す (こぼす (kobosu) — zero).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (零)
Primary Radical (部首): 雨 — あめ / あめかんむり (rain)
Radical Position: Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri))
Semantic Theme: Rain, thunder, clouds, frost, snow, and atmospheric phenomena
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ) when 零 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ぜろ, こぼ.す, こぼ.れる) when 零 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 零 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
雨 (meaning) + 令 (sound レイ)
Derived from the meaning radical 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) and the phonetic component 令, giving the on-reading レイ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 零
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 零 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 零 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 零 ("zero, spill, overflow, nothing, cipher") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) radical. At 13 strokes, 零 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 零?
For 零 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is レイ and the Kunyomi is ぜろ, こぼ.す, こぼ.れる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ) when 零 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ぜろ, こぼ.す, こぼ.れる) when 零 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 零 includes 零 (ぜろ (zero) — zero), 零す (こぼす (kobosu) — zero).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 零 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 零 (zero, spill, overflow, nothing, cipher), start with the 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) in the Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri)) 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 零 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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