How to Write 怠 (neglect, laziness) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 怠 (“neglect, laziness”), indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. Practice 怠 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 怠る (おこたる (okotaru) — neglect), 怠ける (なまける (namakeru) — neglect).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (怠)
Primary Radical (部首): 心 — こころ / りっしんべん (heart)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Heart, thoughts, emotions, and psychological states
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (タイ) when 怠 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おこた.る, なま.ける) when 怠 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 怠 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 心 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 心.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 怠
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 怠 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 怠 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 怠 ("neglect, laziness") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 怠 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 心 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 怠?
For 怠 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is タイ and the Kunyomi is おこた.る, なま.ける. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (タイ) when 怠 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おこた.る, なま.ける) when 怠 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 怠 includes 怠る (おこたる (okotaru) — neglect), 怠ける (なまける (namakeru) — neglect).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 怠 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 怠 (neglect, laziness), start with the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) 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 怠 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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