Hiragana "Zu" Coloring Pages

"Zu" in "Zukan"

The letter on this coloring page is the Hiragana "Zu".
The word is "zukan". In Kanji, it is written as "図鑑".
The picture on the left shows an open zukan (picture dictionary). The left page has a big rhinoceros beetle, and the right page has a picture of a flower.
A zukan is a book that teaches you all about living things, plants, and vehicles with pictures and photos.
This "Nurie Zukan" is also a picture dictionary where you can see many different things as coloring pages.

Hiragana "Zu" Comes from "Su"

Hiragana "Zu" is the letter "su" with tenten (two dots) added to it.
The original "su" got its current shape as people simplified the Kanji character "寸" over time.
When you add the dots, the clear sound of "su" changes into the buzzing sound of Hiragana "Zu".
The letter "づ" (du), which is "tsu" with dots, makes the same sound, but usually, Hiragana "Zu" is used much more often.

Tips for Writing

Hiragana "Zu" is written in 2 strokes.
For the 1st stroke, draw a long horizontal line near the middle of the box.
For the 2nd stroke, go down from the top, make a little loop in the middle, and then sweep down to the left.
Making the loop a bit small, just below the cross line, keeps the letter looking nice and balanced.
At the end, add two dots at the top right. Leave a little space so they do not touch the right end of the line.

Words with Hiragana "Zu"

Words starting with Hiragana "Zu" include zukou (arts and crafts), zubon (pants), zukin (hood), and zutto (forever).
Some words have Hiragana "Zu" in the middle or at the end, like suzume (sparrow), suzu (bell), mimizu (earthworm), and chizu (map).
"Suzume" has "su" and Hiragana "Zu" right next to each other, so it is fun to say out loud.
Try to find other words, too!

How to Look at This Coloring Page

This coloring page has a picture of an open zukan on the left. On the top right, there is a big Hiragana "Zu" and the vertical word "zukan". On the bottom right, there are tracing boxes.
On the zukan pages, no words are written on purpose.
Talk with your family and think about what names or descriptions might be written on the beetle page and the flower page.
Color it in like you are making your very own zukan page!
It is also fun to put it next to the "su" coloring page and compare whether it has dots or not.

Color-code the big Hiragana "Zu" by stroke order

Try coloring the first horizontal line and the second line with the loop of the big Hiragana "Zu" in different colors.
For example, if you make the first stroke green and the second stroke blue, you can easily see where each stroke starts and ends.
If you leave the inside of the loop white, the shape will stand out clearly.

Color the pictures inside the book

If you color the rhinoceros beetle on the left page with dark brown or reddish brown, it will look like a real one.
If you leave a little bit of white on the top of its body, it will look shiny.
Color the flowers on the right page with your favorite colors like red, yellow, or pink. Make the leaves and stems green.
If you make the book cover a dark color, the pictures on the white pages will stand out.

Trace carefully around the loop

Trace the Hiragana "Zu" in the boxes at the bottom right with a pencil.
The trick for the small loop is to go slowly without rushing.
Look at the center lines of the box and check that your horizontal line is not tilted.
Once you write eight of them, draw a circle around your best Hiragana "Zu".

Decorate the edges of the page

You can add small butterflies or ladybugs to the white spaces on the page.
A red ladybug with black spots and a yellow or light blue butterfly look cute.
If you draw lines along the edges of the page with a light color, it will look like a page from a real book.

The Word "Zukan"

The "Zu" in "Zukan" means a picture or drawing.
"Kan" means a guide or something you look at to compare things.
So, a Zukan is a book for looking at pictures, comparing them, and learning new things!

Only Male Rhinoceros Beetles Have Horns

In the picture for Hiragana "Zu", the beetle has a fine, big horn. But only male beetles have them!
Female beetles do not have long horns.
Male beetles use these horns to show off their strength and fight other males for sweet tree sap.

How to Choose Between "ず" and "づ"

"ず" and "づ" make the exact same sound.
In Japanese today, you will use "ず" for almost every word!
You only use "づ" when the sound "つ" repeats, like in "tsuzuku", or when a word starting with "つ" joins another word and changes its sound, like in "mikazuki" (mika + tsuki).

Let's Look It Up in a Zukan

There are many kinds of Zukan books! You can find ones for bugs, plants, animals, fish, and vehicles.
When you find a bug or flower outside and do not know its name, try looking for something that looks just like it in a Zukan.
When you find it, it is super fun to look for a coloring page of that bug or flower and color it in!