How to Write 居 (reside, to be, exist, live with) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 居 (“reside, to be, exist, live with”), indexed under the 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) radical. Practice 居 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 居る (いる (iru) — reside), 居 (い (i) — reside).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (居)
Primary Radical (部首): 尸 — しかばね (corpse)
Radical Position: Hanging (Tare / 垂) (垂 (Tare))
Semantic Theme: Body postures, dwellings, screens, and coverings
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョ, コ) when 居 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (い.る, -い, お.る) when 居 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 居 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) radical (Hanging (Tare / 垂) position). Establish the 尸 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
尸 (meaning) + 古 (sound コ)
Derived from the meaning radical 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) and the phonetic component 古, giving the on-reading コ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 居
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 居 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 居 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 居 ("reside, to be, exist, live with") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 居 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) radical (Hanging (Tare / 垂) position). Establish the 尸 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 居?
For 居 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is キョ, コ and the Kunyomi is い.る, -い, お.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョ, コ) when 居 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (い.る, -い, お.る) when 居 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 居 includes 居る (いる (iru) — reside), 居 (い (i) — reside).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 居 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 居 (reside, to be, exist, live with), start with the 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) in the Hanging (Tare / 垂) (垂 (Tare)) 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 居 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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