写 — how to write the kanji for “copy”

写 means “copy”, “be photographed” and “describe”; it is a JLPT N4 kanji, taught in third grade in Japan. In newspapers it is the 453rd most used kanji. KANJIDIC2 gives it 2 on readings and 4 kun readings, so the word decides how you say it. Its parts sit stacked: 冖 (“cover”, its radical), strokes 1–2; 与 (“bestow”), strokes 3–5, each finished before the next. Read sha, it forms 写真 (“photograph”), 写真集 (“photo book”) and 描写 (“depiction”); the native reading utsu-su gives 写る (“to be photographed”) and 写し (“copy”). Chinese reads it xiě, “to write”, at HSK 1.

Strokes

5

JLPT

N4

Radical

冖 (“cover”)

On

シャ, ジャ

Kun

うつ·る, うつ·す, うつ-