白 kanji stroke order 白 japanese kanji writing 白 kanji diagram-kanji lookup

1. Kanji Breakdown: 白

This kanji represents a fundamental color and concept, often associated with purity and clarity.

• Meaning: White; clear, pure; to say, to explain (in classical Japanese).

• Reading:

• Onyomi (Sino-Japanese reading): ハク (haku), ビャク (byaku)

• Kunyomi (Native Japanese reading): しろ (shiro), しら (shira), しろ（い） (shiro(i))

The etymology of "白" is pictographic. One common theory suggests it depicts a single "acorn" (栢の実), which has a pale, white color. Another theory suggests it represents a flame with a single central tongue, indicating clarity and brightness. Over time, this symbol for a bright, clear object came to mean the color white itself.

2. Stroke Order and Writing

Learning the correct stroke order is crucial for balanced and beautiful kanji. "白" is a simple but foundational character with 5 strokes.

Here is the stroke order diagram and explanation:

Total Strokes: 5

1. The left-falling diagonal stroke. (From right to left)

2. The vertical stroke. (From top to bottom, on the left side)

3. The horizontal stroke. (From left to right, connecting the top)

4. The second vertical stroke. (From top to bottom, on the right side)

5. The final horizontal stroke. (This seals the bottom of the character)

Key Writing Tips:

• Write from top to bottom, left to right.

• The first stroke is a short diagonal, not a dot.

• The character should be slightly wider at the top than at the bottom, giving it a stable but not perfectly rectangular shape.

• The final horizontal stroke should be straight and solid, properly "closing" the character at the bottom.

3. Vocabulary and Example Sentences

Here are some common words using "白" and how to use them in sentences.

Vocabulary

1. 白い (しろい, shiroi)

• Meaning: White (adjective).

• Example: 彼女は白いワンピースを着ている。

• Romaji: Kanojo wa shiroi wanpīsu o kite iru.

• English: She is wearing a white dress.

2. 白髪 (しらが, shiraga)

• Meaning: White hair, grey hair.

• Example: 父の髪に白髪が目立つようになった。

• Romaji: Chichi no kami ni shiraga ga medatsu yō ni natta.

• English: My father's hair has started to show noticeable grey hairs.

3. 明白 (めいはく, meihaku)

• Meaning: Obvious, clear, evident.

• Example: 彼が犯人だという証拠は明白だ。

• Romaji: Kare ga hannin da to iu shōko wa meihaku da.

• English: The evidence that he is the criminal is obvious.

4. 面白い (おもしろい, omoshiroi)

• Meaning: Interesting, amusing, fun. Note: This is a very common word where "白" contributes to the meaning of "clear/fresh face" i.e., interesting.

• Example: この本はとても面白い。

• Romaji: Kono hon wa totemo omoshiroi.

• English: This book is very interesting.

5. 白状 (はくじょう, hakujou)

• Meaning: Confession, admission (of a crime or fault).

• Example: 犯行を白状しました。

• Romaji: Hankō o hakujou shimashita.

• English: He confessed to the crime.

6. 白人 (はくじん, hakujin)

• Meaning: White person, Caucasian.

• Example: 彼は白人です。

• Romaji: Kare wa hakujin desu.

• English: He is Caucasian.

Summary

• Kanji: 白

• Core Meaning: White; Clear, Pure.

• Readings: On'yomi ハク (haku), Kun'yomi しろい (shiroi)

• Stroke Order: 5 strokes. Focus on the correct order to create a well-proportioned character, ensuring the bottom is properly sealed.

This kanji is absolutely essential for everyday conversation and is a building block for many other words. By mastering its simple stroke order and vocabulary, you will be able to correctly write and use this fundamental character.