How to Write 巌 (rock, crag, boulder) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 20-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) character 巌 (“rock, crag, boulder”), indexed under the 山 (やま (mountain)) radical. Practice 巌 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 巌 (いわ (iwa) — rock), 巌 (いわお (iwao) — rock).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (巌)
Primary Radical (部首): 山 — やま (mountain)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 山
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ガン) when 巌 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いわ, いわお, けわ.しい) when 巌 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (20画): At 20 strokes, 巌 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 山 (やま (mountain)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 20 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 山 (やま (mountain))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 20 strokes under radical 山.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 巌
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 巌 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 巌 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 巌 ("rock, crag, boulder") is written with 20 strokes (20画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 山 (やま (mountain)) radical. At 20 strokes, 巌 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 山 (やま (mountain)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 20 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 巌?
For 巌 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ガン and the Kunyomi is いわ, いわお, けわ.しい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ガン) when 巌 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いわ, いわお, けわ.しい) when 巌 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 巌 includes 巌 (いわ (iwa) — rock), 巌 (いわお (iwao) — rock).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 巌 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 20 strokes of 巌 (rock, crag, boulder), start with the 山 (やま (mountain)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) 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 巌 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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