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短

短 — short, brevity, fault

Learn the correct stroke order for 短 (short), a 12-stroke kanji.

JLPT N2Grade 312 strokes

Stroke Order

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Stroke 0 / 12
On'yomi (音読み)タンtan
Kun'yomi (訓読み)みじか.いmijikai
Strokes12
Radical矢
Frequency#689
Meaningsshort, brevity, fault, defect, weak point

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 12 — start from the green dot

Common Words

最短さいたんshortestnoun
短いみじかいshorti-adjective
短歌たんかtanka; 31-mora Japanese poemnoun
短期たんきshort-termnoun
短気たんきshort temper; quick temper; hot tempernoun
短冊たんざくtanzaku; long, narrow strip of paper used for writing poetry, wishes, decorations, etc.noun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 短 (short) is taught in grade 3 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N2 level. It has 12 strokes with radical 矢.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 短 is #689, making it a frequently used kanji.

Example Words in Context

最短さいたん — shortest
短いみじかい — short
短歌たんか — tanka; 31-mora Japanese poem

Practice Sheet

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

Related Kanji

Same radical (矢)

矢dart知know矯rectify

Same reading

担shouldering炭charcoal

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 短 have?

The kanji 短 (short) has 12 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 短?

短 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 短 mean?

短 means: short, brevity, fault, defect, weak point. On'yomi readings: タン. Kun'yomi readings: みじか.い.

What JLPT level is 短?

短 is a JLPT N2 kanji. This is an advanced kanji.