手

手 — hand

Learn the correct stroke order for 手 (hand), a 4-stroke kanji.

JLPT N4Grade 14 strokes

Stroke Order

Stroke 0 / 4

On'yomi (音読み)シュshu、ズzu

Kun'yomi (訓読み)てte、て-te、-てte、た-ta

Strokes4

Radical手

Frequency#60

Meaningshand

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 4 — start from the green dot

Common Words

握手あくしゅhandshakenoun

一手いってone move (in go, shogi, etc.)noun

右手みぎてright handnoun

王手おうてchecknoun

下手したてhumble position; inferiornoun

下手へたunskillful; poor; awkwardna-adjective

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 手 (hand) is taught in grade 1 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N4 level. It has 4 strokes with radical 手.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 手 is #60, making it one of the most commonly used kanji.

Example Words in Context

握手あくしゅ — handshake

一手いって — one move (in go, shogi, etc.)

右手みぎて — right hand

Practice Sheet

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

Related Kanji

Same radical (手)

才genius 打strike 払pay 扱handle 投throw 技skill 批criticism 抗confront

Same reading

事matter 主lord 図map

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 手 have?

The kanji 手 (hand) has 4 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 手?

手 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 手 mean?

手 means: hand. On'yomi readings: シュ, ズ. Kun'yomi readings: て, て-, -て, た-.

What JLPT level is 手?

手 is a JLPT N4 kanji. This is a beginner-level kanji.