How to Write 靴 (shoes) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 靴 (“shoes”), indexed under the 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) radical. Practice 靴 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 靴 (くつ (kutsu) — shoes).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (靴)
Primary Radical (部首): 革 — かわのかわ (leather)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 革
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ) when 靴 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くつ) when 靴 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 靴 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
革 (meaning) + 化 (sound カ)
Derived from the meaning radical 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) and the phonetic component 化, giving the on-reading カ / ケ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 靴
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 靴 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 靴 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 靴 ("shoes") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) radical. At 13 strokes, 靴 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) radical (Standalone / Integrated 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 靴?
For 靴 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is カ and the Kunyomi is くつ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ) when 靴 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くつ) when 靴 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 靴 includes 靴 (くつ (kutsu) — shoes).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 靴 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 靴 (shoes), start with the 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) 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 靴 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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