How to Write 食 (eat, food) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 食 (“eat, food”), indexed under the 食 (しょく (food)) radical. Practice 食 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 食べる (たべる (taberu) — to eat), 食事 (しょくじ (shokuji) — meal), 食堂 (しょくどう (shokudou) — cafeteria / dining hall).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (食)
Primary Radical (部首): 食 — しょく (food)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Food, meals, eating, dining, and cuisine
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショク, ジキ) when 食 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (く.う, た.べる, は.む) when 食 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 食 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 食 (しょく (food)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 食 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 食 (しょく (food))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 食.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 食
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 食 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 食 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 食 ("eat, food") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 食 (しょく (food)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 食 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 食 (しょく (food)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 食 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 食?
For 食 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ショク, ジキ and the Kunyomi is く.う, た.べる, は.む. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショク, ジキ) when 食 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (く.う, た.べる, は.む) when 食 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 食 includes 食べる (たべる (taberu) — to eat), 食事 (しょくじ (shokuji) — meal), 食堂 (しょくどう (shokudou) — cafeteria / dining hall).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 食 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 食 (eat, food), start with the 食 (しょく (food)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) 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 食 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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