How to Write 齢 (age) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 17-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 齢 (“age”), indexed under the 齒 (は (tooth)) radical. Practice 齢 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 齢 (よわい (yowai) — age), 齢 (とし (toshi) — age).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (齢)
Primary Radical (部首): 齒 — は (tooth)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 齒
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ) when 齢 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (よわい, とし) when 齢 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (17画): At 17 strokes, 齢 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 齒 (は (tooth)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 17 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 齒 (は (tooth))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 17 strokes under radical 齒.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 齢
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 齢 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 齢 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 齢 ("age") is written with 17 strokes (17画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 齒 (は (tooth)) radical. At 17 strokes, 齢 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 齒 (は (tooth)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 17 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 齢?
For 齢 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is レイ and the Kunyomi is よわい, とし. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ) when 齢 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (よわい, とし) when 齢 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 齢 includes 齢 (よわい (yowai) — age), 齢 (とし (toshi) — age).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 齢 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 17 strokes of 齢 (age), start with the 齒 (は (tooth)) 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 齢 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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