How to Write 凹 (concave, hollow, sunken) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 凹 (“concave, hollow, sunken”), indexed under the 凵 (うけばこ (open box)) radical. Practice 凹 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 凹む (くぼむ (kubomu) — concave), 凹む (へこむ (hekomu) — concave).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (凹)
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). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (オウ) when 凹 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くぼ.む, へこ.む, ぼこ) when 凹 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 凹 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 5 strokes under radical 凵.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 凹
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 凹 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 凹 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 凹 ("concave, hollow, sunken") is written with 5 strokes (5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 5 strokes, 凹 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 凹?
For 凹 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is オウ and the Kunyomi is くぼ.む, へこ.む, ぼこ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (オウ) when 凹 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くぼ.む, へこ.む, ぼこ) when 凹 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 凹 includes 凹む (くぼむ (kubomu) — concave), 凹む (へこむ (hekomu) — concave).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 凹 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 凹 (concave, hollow, sunken), 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 凹 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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