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保

保 — protect, guarantee, keep

Learn the correct stroke order for 保 (protect), a 9-stroke kanji.

JLPT N1Grade 59 strokes

Stroke Order

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Stroke 0 / 9
On'yomi (音読み)ホho、ホウhou
Kun'yomi (訓読み)たも.つtamotsu
Strokes9
Radical人
Frequency#146
Meaningsprotect, guarantee, keep, preserve, sustain, support

Step-by-Step Diagram

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Try Writing It

Practice writing each stroke in the correct order and direction. Start from the green dot.

Draw stroke 1 of 9 — start from the green dot

Common Words

安保あんぽsecurity (e.g. national security)noun
確保かくほsecuring; obtaining; ensuringnoun
生保せいほlife insurancenoun
担保たんぽsecurity; guarantee; collateralnoun
保つたもつto keep; to preserve; to holdverb
保安ほあんpeace preservation; securitynoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 保 (protect) is taught in grade 5 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N1 level. It has 9 strokes with radical 人.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 保 is #146, making it one of the most commonly used kanji.

Example Words in Context

安保あんぽ — security (e.g. national security)
確保かくほ — securing; obtaining; ensuring
生保せいほ — life insurance

Practice Sheet

Trace then write on your own. Print this row as a PDF practice sheet.

Related Kanji

Same radical (人)

人person今now介jammed in仏Buddha仁humanity代substitute以by means of付adhere

Same reading

邦home country崩crumble浦bay砲cannon芳perfume胞placenta舗shop棚shelf

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 保 have?

The kanji 保 (protect) has 9 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 保?

保 follows the standard Japanese stroke order as taught in schools. Use the step-by-step diagram or the "Try Writing" tool above to practice each stroke in sequence.

What does 保 mean?

保 means: protect, guarantee, keep, preserve, sustain, support. On'yomi readings: ホ, ホウ. Kun'yomi readings: たも.つ.

What JLPT level is 保?

保 is a JLPT N1 kanji. This is an advanced kanji.