How to Write 悔 (repent, regret) — 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 悔 (“repent, regret”), indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. Practice 悔 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 悔いる (くいる (kuiru) — repent), 悔やむ (くやむ (kuyamu) — repent).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (悔)
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 (カイ) when 悔 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (く.いる, く.やむ, くや.しい) when 悔 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 悔 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 悔
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 悔 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 悔 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 悔 ("repent, regret") 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, 悔 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 悔?
For 悔 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is カイ and the Kunyomi is く.いる, く.やむ, くや.しい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カイ) when 悔 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (く.いる, く.やむ, くや.しい) when 悔 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 悔 includes 悔いる (くいる (kuiru) — repent), 悔やむ (くやむ (kuyamu) — repent).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 悔 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 悔 (repent, regret), 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 悔 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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