gentle / superior
N3- Onyomi
- ユウ
- Kunyomi
- やさ(しい)・すぐ(れる)
- Stroke count
- 17
- JLPT
- N3
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 優 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 憂 (worry / grief) — a bowed head and a heavy heart, dragging each step a little slower. Picture a person carrying a box held in both arms, put 優 inside it, and let that scene stand for "gentle" — gentle / superior. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 17
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は17画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 17 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
優勝
yuushou
championship
優遇
yuuguu
preferential treatment
優しい
yasashii
kind
優遇した
yuuguushita
plain past: did preferential treatment
優勝した
yuushoushita
plain past: did championship
優勝する
yuushousuru
to do championship
Example sentences (4)
私たちのチームが大会で優勝しました。
わたしたち の ちーむ が たいかい で ゆうしょう しました。
watashitachi no chiimu ga taikai de yuushou shimashita.
Our team won the tournament.
優勝できるとは思っていませんでした。
ゆうしょう できる と は おもって いません でした。
yuushou dekiru to wa omotte imasen deshita.
I never thought we could win.
部長はとても優しい人です。
ぶちょう は とても やさしい ひと です。
buchou wa totemo yasashii hito desu.
The manager is a very kind person.
新しい先輩は優しいので、質問しやすいです。
あたらしい せんぱい は やさしい ので、しつもん しやすい です。
atarashii senpai wa yasashii node, shitsumon shiyasui desu.
My new senior colleague is kind, so it is easy to ask questions.