How to Write 励 (encourage, be diligent, inspire) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 励 (“encourage, be diligent, inspire”), indexed under the 力 (ちから (power)) radical. Practice 励 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 励む (はげむ (hagemu) — encourage), 励ます (はげます (hagemasu) — encourage).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (励)
Primary Radical (部首): 力 — ちから (power)
Radical Position: Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri))
Semantic Theme: Physical strength, effort, power, and labor
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ) when 励 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はげ.む, はげ.ます) when 励 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 励 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 力 (ちから (power)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position). Establish the 力 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 力 (ちから (power))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 7 strokes under radical 力.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 励
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 励 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 励 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 励 ("encourage, be diligent, inspire") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 力 (ちから (power)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 励 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 力 (ちから (power)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position). Establish the 力 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 励?
For 励 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is レイ and the Kunyomi is はげ.む, はげ.ます. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ) when 励 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はげ.む, はげ.ます) when 励 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 励 includes 励む (はげむ (hagemu) — encourage), 励ます (はげます (hagemasu) — encourage).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 励 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 励 (encourage, be diligent, inspire), start with the 力 (ちから (power)) 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 励 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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