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針

針 — needle, pin, staple

Learn the correct stroke order for 針 (needle), a 10-stroke kanji.

JLPT N2Grade 610 strokes

Stroke Order

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Stroke 0 / 10
On'yomi (音読み)シンshin
Kun'yomi (訓読み)はりhari
Strokes10
Radical金
Frequency#505
Meaningsneedle, pin, staple, stinger

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 10 — start from the green dot

Common Words

指針ししんneedle (compass, gauge, etc.); hand (clock); indicatornoun
針金はりがねwirenoun
方針ほうしんpolicy; course; plan (of action)noun
針はりneedle; pinnoun
羅針盤らしんばんcompassnoun
釣り針つりばりfish hooknoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 針 (needle) is taught in grade 6 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N2 level. It has 10 strokes with radical 金.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 針 is #505, making it a frequently used kanji.

Example Words in Context

指針ししん — needle (compass, gauge, etc.); hand (clock); indicator
針金はりがね — wire
方針ほうしん — policy; course; plan (of action)

Practice Sheet

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

Related Kanji

Same radical (金)

金gold釜kettle釣angling鈍dull鉄iron鈴small bell鉱mineral鉛lead

Same reading

森forest清pure伸expand震quake臣retainer辛spicy

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 針 have?

The kanji 針 (needle) has 10 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 針?

針 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 針 mean?

針 means: needle, pin, staple, stinger. On'yomi readings: シン. Kun'yomi readings: はり.

What JLPT level is 針?

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