How to Write 巧 (adroit, skilled, ingenuity) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 巧 (“adroit, skilled, ingenuity”), indexed under the 工 (こう (work)) radical. Practice 巧 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 巧み (たくみ (takumi) — adroit), 巧む (たくむ (takumu) — adroit).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (巧)
Primary Radical (部首): 工 — こう (work)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 工
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ) when 巧 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (たく.み, たく.む, うま.い) when 巧 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 巧 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 工 (こう (work)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
工 (meaning) + 工 (sound コウ)
Derived from the meaning radical 工 (こう (work)) and the phonetic component 工, giving the on-reading コウ / ク.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 巧
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 巧 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 巧 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 巧 ("adroit, skilled, ingenuity") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 工 (こう (work)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 巧 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 工 (こう (work)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 巧?
For 巧 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is コウ and the Kunyomi is たく.み, たく.む, うま.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ) when 巧 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (たく.み, たく.む, うま.い) when 巧 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 巧 includes 巧み (たくみ (takumi) — adroit), 巧む (たくむ (takumu) — adroit).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 巧 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 巧 (adroit, skilled, ingenuity), start with the 工 (こう (work)) 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 巧 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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