How to Write 養 (foster, bring up, rear, develop, nurture) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 養 (“foster, bring up, rear, develop, nurture”), indexed under the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)) radical. Practice 養 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 養う (やしなう (yashinau) — foster).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (養)
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 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨウ, リョウ) when 養 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (やしな.う) when 養 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 養 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 15 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 15 strokes under radical 食.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 養
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 養 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 養 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 養 ("foster, bring up, rear, develop, nurture") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4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 15 strokes, 養 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 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 養?
For 養 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ヨウ, リョウ and the Kunyomi is やしな.う. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨウ, リョウ) when 養 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (やしな.う) when 養 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 養 includes 養う (やしなう (yashinau) — foster).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 養 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 養 (foster, bring up, rear, develop, nurture), 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 養 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N1 Characters to Practice Next
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