How to Write 墨 (black ink, India ink, ink stick, Mexico) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 14-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 墨 (“black ink, India ink, ink stick, Mexico”), indexed under the 土 (つち (earth)) radical. Practice 墨 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 墨 (すみ (sumi) — black ink).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (墨)
Primary Radical (部首): 土 — つち (earth)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Ground, earth, clay, soil, land, and territory
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボク) when 墨 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (すみ) when 墨 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 墨 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 土 (つち (earth)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 土 (つち (earth))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 14 strokes under radical 土.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 墨
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 墨 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 墨 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 墨 ("black ink, India ink, ink stick, Mexico") is written with 14 strokes (14画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 土 (つち (earth)) radical. At 14 strokes, 墨 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 土 (つち (earth)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 墨?
For 墨 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ボク and the Kunyomi is すみ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボク) when 墨 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (すみ) when 墨 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 墨 includes 墨 (すみ (sumi) — black ink).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 墨 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 墨 (black ink, India ink, ink stick, Mexico), start with the 土 (つち (earth)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) 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 墨 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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