How to Write 剛 (sturdy, strength) — 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 剛 (“sturdy, strength”), indexed under the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical. Practice 剛 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 剛 (ゴウ / ごう (gou) — sturdy).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (剛)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). 剛 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゴウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 剛 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 8 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 10 strokes under radical 刀.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 剛
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 剛 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 剛 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 剛 ("sturdy, strength") 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 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 剛 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 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 剛?
For 剛 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ゴウ and the Kunyomi is —. 剛 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゴウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 剛 includes 剛 (ゴウ / ごう (gou) — sturdy).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 剛 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 剛 (sturdy, strength), 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 剛 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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