Why Stroke Order Matters
Correct stroke order makes kanji easier to write, read, and remember.
Write Naturally
Characters flow from your pen when each stroke follows the standard sequence.
Browse kanjiRecognize Faster
Understanding structure helps you read handwritten and printed text with confidence.
JLPT levelsRemember More
Muscle memory from consistent stroke order turns repetition into long-term recall.
By radical8 Basic Stroke-Order Rules
These principles cover most kanji you will encounter.
Top to bottom
Start from the top stroke and work your way down.
Left to right
Write the leftmost stroke first, then move right.
Horizontal before vertical
When strokes cross, horizontal comes first.
Left diagonal first
A left-falling stroke precedes a right-falling one.
Outside before inside
Draw the outer frame, then fill the inside.
Close the frame last
The bottom bar of an enclosure goes last.
Center before sides
A vertical center stroke goes before flanking ones.
Dots and minor last
Small finishing dots are added at the end.
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