側

側 — side, lean, oppose

Learn the correct stroke order for 側 (side), a 11-stroke kanji.

JLPT N3Grade 411 strokes

Stroke Order

Stroke 0 / 11

On'yomi (音読み)ソクsoku

Kun'yomi (訓読み)かわkawa、がわgawa、そばsoba

Strokes11

Radical人

Frequency#216

Meaningsside, lean, oppose, regret

Step-by-Step Diagram

Try Writing It

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

Draw stroke 1 of 11 — start from the green dot

Common Words

縁側えんがわengawa; external corridor on the outer side of traditional Japanese housesnoun

西側にしがわwest side; west banknoun

側近そっきんclose aide (of a powerful person); close associate; entouragenoun

側面そくめんside; flank; profilenoun

内側うちがわinside; interior; inner partnoun

片側かたがわone sidenoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 側 (side) is taught in grade 4 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N3 level. It has 11 strokes with radical 人.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 側 is #216, making it one of the most commonly used kanji.

Example Words in Context

縁側えんがわ — engawa; external corridor on the outer side of traditional Japanese houses

西側にしがわ — west side; west bank

側近そっきん — close aide (of a powerful person); close associate; entourage

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

数number 職post 速quick 息breath 束bundle

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 側 have?

The kanji 側 (side) has 11 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 側?

側 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 側 mean?

側 means: side, lean, oppose, regret. On'yomi readings: ソク. Kun'yomi readings: かわ, がわ, そば.

What JLPT level is 側?

側 is a JLPT N3 kanji. This is an intermediate kanji.