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顔

顔 — face, expression

Learn the correct stroke order for 顔 (face), a 18-stroke kanji.

JLPT N3Grade 218 strokes

Stroke Order

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Stroke 0 / 18
On'yomi (音読み)ガンgan
Kun'yomi (訓読み)かおkao
Strokes18
Radical頁
Frequency#676
Meaningsface, expression

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 18 — start from the green dot

Common Words

横顔よこがおprofile; face in profile; face seen from the sidenoun
顔色かおいろcomplexion; skin tone; skin colournoun
顔面がんめんface (of person)noun
似顔にがおportrait; likenessnoun
笑顔えがおsmiling face; smilenoun
寝顔ねがおsleeping facenoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 顔 (face) is taught in grade 2 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N3 level. It has 18 strokes with radical 頁.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 顔 is #676, making it a frequently used kanji.

Example Words in Context

横顔よこがお — profile; face in profile; face seen from the side
顔色かおいろ — complexion; skin tone; skin colour
顔面がんめん — face (of person)

Practice Sheet

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

Related Kanji

Same radical (頁)

頂place on the head頃time順obey項paragraph須ought預deposit頑stubborn頒distribute

Same reading

願petition

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 顔 have?

The kanji 顔 (face) has 18 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 顔?

顔 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 顔 mean?

顔 means: face, expression. On'yomi readings: ガン. Kun'yomi readings: かお.

What JLPT level is 顔?

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