Stroke order for left and right


Why are the stroke orders for 右 and 左 different?

右 starts with the vertical stroke, and 左 starts with the horizontal one.




It has to do with the stroke order of the part underneath it. For this
example, I'll refer to 左 as ナ and エ, and 右 as ナ and ロ. For 左, since the first
stroke of the underneath part (the エ) is horizontal, the ナ is started with the
horizontal stroke. For 右, since the first stroke of the ロ is vertical, the ナ
is also started vertically.

Similarly for 有 and 布. Since 月 and 巾 both start vertically, the ナ also starts
vertically. Can't think of anymore off the top of my head where the ナ starts
horizontally. But the rule is to look to the first stroke underneath the ナ.




It has to do with the stroke order of the part underneath it. For this
example, I'll refer to 左 as ナ and エ, and 右 as ナ and ロ. For 左, since the first
stroke of the underneath part (the エ) is horizontal, the ナ is started with the
horizontal stroke. For 右, since the first stroke of the ロ is vertical, the ナ
is also started vertically.

Similarly for 有 and 布. Since 月 and 巾 both start vertically, the ナ also starts
vertically. Can't think of anymore off the top of my head where the ナ starts
horizontally. But the rule is to look to the first stroke underneath the ナ.

