How to Write 亡 (deceased, the late, dying, perish) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 亡 (“deceased, the late, dying, perish”), indexed under the 亠 (なべぶた (lid)) radical. Practice 亡 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 亡い (ない (nai) — deceased), 亡き (なき (naki) — deceased).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (亡)
Primary Radical (部首): 亠 — なべぶた (lid)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 亠
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボウ, モウ) when 亡 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (な.い, な.き-, ほろ.びる, ほろ.ぶ, ほろ.ぼす) when 亡 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, 亡 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 亠 (なべぶた (lid)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 亠 (なべぶた (lid))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 3 strokes under radical 亠.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 亡
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 亡 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 亡 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 亡 ("deceased, the late, dying, perish") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 亠 (なべぶた (lid)) radical. With only 3 strokes, 亡 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 亠 (なべぶた (lid)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 亡?
For 亡 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ボウ, モウ and the Kunyomi is な.い, な.き-, ほろ.びる, ほろ.ぶ, ほろ.ぼす. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボウ, モウ) when 亡 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (な.い, な.き-, ほろ.びる, ほろ.ぶ, ほろ.ぼす) when 亡 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 亡 includes 亡い (ない (nai) — deceased), 亡き (なき (naki) — deceased).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 亡 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of 亡 (deceased, the late, dying, perish), start with the 亠 (なべぶた (lid)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 亡 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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