How to Write 刻 (engrave, cut fine, chop, hash, mince) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 刻 (“engrave, cut fine, chop, hash, mince”), indexed under the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical. Practice 刻 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 刻む (きざむ (kizamu) — engrave), 刻み (きざみ (kizami) — engrave).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (刻)
Primary Radical (部首): 刀 — かたな / りっとう (sword)
Radical Position: Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri))
Semantic Theme: Knives, swords, cutting, dividing, and sharpness
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コク) when 刻 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きざ.む, きざ.み) when 刻 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 刻 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position). Establish the 刀 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 8 strokes under radical 刀.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 刻
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 刻 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 刻 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 刻 ("engrave, cut fine, chop, hash, mince") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 刻 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position). Establish the 刀 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 刻?
For 刻 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is コク and the Kunyomi is きざ.む, きざ.み. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コク) when 刻 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きざ.む, きざ.み) when 刻 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 刻 includes 刻む (きざむ (kizamu) — engrave), 刻み (きざみ (kizami) — engrave).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 刻 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 刻 (engrave, cut fine, chop, hash, mince), start with the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) in the Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri)) 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 刻 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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