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JapanLingo

garden

N4
Onyomi
Kunyomi
Stroke count
13
JLPT
N4

Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.

Memory tip

A flat illustration of a walled orchard with a tree and a pond inside it, with the kanji 園 ("garden") drawn into the picture.

Break 園 down and you get 囗 (enclosure / border) — a wall drawn right round the outside. Picture a walled orchard with a tree and a pond inside it, put 園 inside it, and let that scene stand for "garden" — garden. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

Stroke Order

Stroke count: 13

General writing tips

These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.

  • •Write from top to bottom.
  • •Write from left to right.
  • •Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
  • •Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
  • •In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
  • •This kanji has 13 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.

Step by step

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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

kouen

park

kouen ni ikimasu

to go to the park

kouen no chikaku desu

near the park

kouen de hataraiteimasu

to work at the park

Example sentences (3)

hiruyasumi ni kouen de obentou o tabemasu.

I eat my boxed lunch in the park during the lunch break.

kouen ni ookii ki ga arimasu.

There is a big tree in the park.

kouen no gomi o hirotte kara, ie ni kaerimashita.

I picked up the litter in the park and then went home.