す (su)
Pronunciation
The character す represents the syllable 'su', a soft 's' followed by 'u' (with relaxed lips). In casual speech the 'u' is sometimes nearly silent, especially at the end of words like 'desu' (です) which is often pronounced more like 'dess'. Part of the さ-row.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
す is written in two strokes. Stroke 1: a short horizontal line near the top, written from left to right. Stroke 2: a long curving stroke that begins at the right end of stroke 1, descends through the middle of the character, loops around to form a small closed circle in the lower middle, and ends with a tail extending toward the lower left. The loop is the defining feature of す.
Common Words with す
- す (su) — nest / rookery / breeding place
- すえ (sue) — end / tip / top
- すぎ (sugi) — Japanese cedar
- すじ (suji) — muscle / tendon / sinew
- すず (suzu) — bell
- すがた (sugata) — figure / form / shape
- すな (suna) — sand / grit / fine gravel
- すみ (sumi) — sumi / India ink / Chinese ink
- むすめ (musume) — daughter
- めす (mesu) — female
- からす (karasu) — crow / raven
- くすり (kusuri) — medicine / pharmaceuticals / drugs
- すき (suki) — gap / opening / room
- いす (isu) — chair / seat / stool
- うすい (usui) — thin
- おかす (okasu) — to invade / to raid / to violate
- おす (osu) — to push / to thrust / to shove
- かえす (kaesu) — to return / to restore / to put back
- かくす (kakusu) — to hide / to conceal
- こうすい (kousui) — perfume / scent
How to Write す (su) in Hiragana
The hiragana character す is romanized as "su" and is written with 2 strokes. Like "sue", but shorter. Example word: すし (sushi) — sushi.
Stroke Order for す
When writing す, follow the numbered stroke order shown in the reference character above. Japanese characters are generally written from left to right and top to bottom. Correct stroke order improves readability and writing speed.
Practice Tips
- Print this sheet on standard 8.5" × 11" letter paper
- Start by tracing the light grey guide characters in the first column
- Then practice writing す freehand in the empty squares
- Pay attention to stroke direction and order — follow the numbered guide
- For interactive practice with animations, visit the main study page
About Hiragana
Hiragana is one of the three Japanese writing systems. It consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a syllable. Hiragana is used for native Japanese words, grammar particles, and verb endings. Learning correct stroke order is essential for proper Japanese handwriting.