About genkō yōshi paper
Genkō yōshi is Japanese manuscript paper. Squares hold one character each and run in columns, with a gutter alongside for punctuation and furigana. Set the box size and gutter width for kanji, kana and composition practice.
Genko yoshi (原稿用紙) is Japanese manuscript paper: each square holds one character, squares run in vertical columns, and a gutter beside each column takes punctuation and furigana. Set the box size and gutter width for kanji, kana and composition work.
It is the standard format for Japanese essays (作文) and handwriting practice, and works equally for practicing Chinese characters one per box.
Great for
- Japanese handwriting practice
- Kanji and kana drills
- Essay and composition (作文)
- Chinese character practice
Common questions
How is genko yoshi written?
Traditionally one character per square, reading top-to-bottom in columns from right to left, with punctuation in the gutter.
Can I use it for Chinese characters?
Yes — one character per box makes it just as suitable for hanzi practice as for kanji and kana.
Guides for this paper
Printing at the right size
Every sheet is drawn in real units, so it prints true to size as long as you print at 100%. In the print dialog, set the scale to 100% and turn off “Fit to page” or “Shrink oversized pages” — then a 5 mm square really measures 5 mm. Download a vector SVG to edit later, a PNG at up to 600 dpi, or a ready-to-print PDF. Everything is generated in your browser, nothing is uploaded, and every sheet is free to print for personal, classroom and commercial use. See the guide to printing at true size or the FAQ for more.