How to Write 凶 (villain, evil, bad luck, disaster) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 凶 (“villain, evil, bad luck, disaster”), indexed under the 凵 (うけばこ (open box)) radical. Practice 凶 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 凶 (キョウ / きょう (kyou) — villain).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (凶)
Primary Radical (部首): 凵 — うけばこ (open box)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 凵
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). 凶 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 凶 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 凵 (うけばこ (open box)) 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: 凵 (うけばこ (open box))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 4 strokes under radical 凵.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 凶
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 凶 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 凶 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 凶 ("villain, evil, bad luck, disaster") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 凵 (うけばこ (open box)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 凶 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 凵 (うけばこ (open box)) 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 凶?
For 凶 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is キョウ and the Kunyomi is —. 凶 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 凶 includes 凶 (キョウ / きょう (kyou) — villain).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 凶 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 凶 (villain, evil, bad luck, disaster), start with the 凵 (うけばこ (open box)) 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 凶 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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