How to Write 冥 (dark) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 冥 (“dark”), indexed under the 冖 (わかんむり (cover)) radical. Practice 冥 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 冥い (くらい (kurai) — dark).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (冥)
Primary Radical (部首): 冖 — わかんむり (cover)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 冖
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (メイ, ミョウ) when 冥 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くら.い) when 冥 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 冥 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 冖 (わかんむり (cover)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 冖 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 冖 (わかんむり (cover))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 10 strokes under radical 冖.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 冥
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 冥 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 冥 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 冥 ("dark") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 冖 (わかんむり (cover)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 冥 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 冖 (わかんむり (cover)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 冖 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 冥?
For 冥 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is メイ, ミョウ and the Kunyomi is くら.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (メイ, ミョウ) when 冥 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くら.い) when 冥 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 冥 includes 冥い (くらい (kurai) — dark).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 冥 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 冥 (dark), start with the 冖 (わかんむり (cover)) 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 冥 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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