How to Write 劇 (drama, play) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 劇 (“drama, play”), indexed under the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical. Practice 劇 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 劇 (ゲキ / げき (geki) — drama).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (劇)
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 N2). 劇 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゲキ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 劇 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 15 strokes under radical 刀.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 劇
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 劇 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 劇 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 劇 ("drama, play") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical. At 15 strokes, 劇 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 劇?
For 劇 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ゲキ and the Kunyomi is —. 劇 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゲキ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 劇 includes 劇 (ゲキ / げき (geki) — drama).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 劇 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 劇 (drama, play), 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 劇 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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