



Winter Camellia 寒椿
kantsubaki2 characters25 strokes
寒椿 (kantsubaki) means a winter camellia: a camellia that blooms in the cold of winter, its vivid flowers opening even in the chill.
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Meaning 意味
What 寒椿 means
The Japanese word for Winter Camellia, written with 2 kanji and read kantsubaki.
Kantsubaki is a camellia that blooms in the cold of winter. The word describes its vivid flowers opening even in the cold.
When people write it in Japan. Kantsubaki is a good word for winter pieces and for practicing kakizome, the first calligraphy of the New Year.
One of these kanji is beyond the everyday list, a challenge even for adults in Japan.
How to write it 書き方
Brush tips for 寒椿
Regular script (kaisho)
- In 寒, write the roof radical at the top (ukanmuri) wide, so it covers the part below.
- Space the horizontal strokes in the middle of 寒 about evenly. Open the sweeps down to the left and right at the bottom wide.
- In 椿, write the tree radical on the left (kihen) tall and narrow. In the 春 on the right, space the horizontal strokes evenly and let the sweeps stretch out freely.
Semi-cursive script (gyōsho)
- In 寒, write the roof radical at the top (ukanmuri) so the brush flows from the dot into the horizontal stroke.
- Move the brush through the horizontal strokes in the middle of 寒 as if linking them. Open the sweeps to the left and right wide.
- In 椿, let the tree radical on the left (kihen) flow from its vertical stroke into the next stroke. Balance it with the 春 on the right.
Stroke order
Follow the vermilion stroke, frame by frame.
Stroke order data: KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0.
How to practice 練習
Trace first, then copy
- PrintPrint both pages at actual size, on US Letter or A4. Page 1 is the model. Page 2 is the tracing sheet.
- TraceTrace the outlines with a brush pen. Or lay thin hanshi paper over the page and trace with brush and ink.
- CopySet the model beside your paper and copy it stroke by stroke. Look at the model more than at your own paper.
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