How to Write 鳥 (bird, chicken) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 鳥 (“bird, chicken”), indexed under the 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical. Practice 鳥 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 鳥 (とり (tori) — bird).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (鳥)
Primary Radical (部首): 鳥 — とり (bird)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 鳥
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チョウ) when 鳥 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (とり) when 鳥 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 鳥 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 鳥 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 鳥 (とり (bird))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 鳥.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 鳥
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 鳥 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 鳥 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 鳥 ("bird, chicken") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 鳥 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 鳥 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 鳥?
For 鳥 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is チョウ and the Kunyomi is とり. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チョウ) when 鳥 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (とり) when 鳥 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 鳥 includes 鳥 (とり (tori) — bird).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 鳥 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 鳥 (bird, chicken), start with the 鳥 (とり (bird)) 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 鳥 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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