Energy 元気
genki2 characters10 strokes
元気 (genki) means energy: the lively, healthy feeling of a body and mind full of strength and good spirits.
Free practice sheet
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Meaning 意味
What 元気 means
The Japanese word for energy, written with 2 kanji and read genki.
元気 describes a body and mind that are lively and full of strength. It is a bright, cheerful word that Japanese people often link with children.
When people write it in Japan. In Japan, 元気 is a common word for kakizome, the first calligraphy of the New Year, and for practice at the start of a school term or in any season.
Japanese children know every kanji here by 2nd grade.
How to write it 書き方
Brush tips for 元気
Three things to watch
- In 元, make the 1st stroke, a horizontal line, short and the 2nd stroke, also a horizontal line, long.
- The last stroke of 元 and the 4th stroke of 気 share the same shape: they bend, stretch out to the right and flick up.
- Keep the X shape inside 気 (メ) small and tucked in.
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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