How to Write 妖 (attractive, bewitching, calamity) — 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 妖 (“attractive, bewitching, calamity”), indexed under the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. Practice 妖 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 妖しい (あやしい (ayashii) — attractive), 妖めく (なまめく (namameku) — attractive).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (妖)
Primary Radical (部首): 女 — おんな (woman)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Women, maternal relationships, and feminine traits
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨウ) when 妖 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あや.しい, なま.めく, わざわ.い) when 妖 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 妖 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 女 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: 女 (おんな (woman))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 7 strokes under radical 女.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 妖
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 妖 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 妖 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 妖 ("attractive, bewitching, calamity") 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 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 妖 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 女 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 妖?
For 妖 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ヨウ and the Kunyomi is あや.しい, なま.めく, わざわ.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨウ) when 妖 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あや.しい, なま.めく, わざわ.い) when 妖 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 妖 includes 妖しい (あやしい (ayashii) — attractive), 妖めく (なまめく (namameku) — attractive).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 妖 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 妖 (attractive, bewitching, calamity), start with the 女 (おんな (woman)) 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 妖 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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