How to Write 飲 (drink, smoke, take) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 飲 (“drink, smoke, take”), indexed under the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)) radical. Practice 飲 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 飲む (のむ (nomu) — drink), 飲み (のみ (nomi) — drink).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (飲)
Primary Radical (部首): 食 — しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Food, meals, eating, dining, and cuisine
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (イン, オン) when 飲 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (の.む, -の.み) when 飲 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 飲 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 食.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 飲
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 飲 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 飲 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 飲 ("drink, smoke, take") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)) radical. At 12 strokes, 飲 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 飲?
For 飲 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is イン, オン and the Kunyomi is の.む, -の.み. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (イン, オン) when 飲 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (の.む, -の.み) when 飲 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 飲 includes 飲む (のむ (nomu) — drink), 飲み (のみ (nomi) — drink).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 飲 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 飲 (drink, smoke, take), start with the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/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 飲 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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