How to Write 悲 (grieve, sad, deplore, regret) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 悲 (“grieve, sad, deplore, regret”), indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. Practice 悲 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 悲しい (かなしい (kanashii) — grieve), 悲しむ (かなしむ (kanashimu) — grieve).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (悲)
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 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヒ) when 悲 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かな.しい, かな.しむ) when 悲 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 悲 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 心.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 悲
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 悲 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 悲 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 悲 ("grieve, sad, deplore, regret") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. At 12 strokes, 悲 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 悲?
For 悲 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ヒ and the Kunyomi is かな.しい, かな.しむ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヒ) when 悲 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かな.しい, かな.しむ) when 悲 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 悲 includes 悲しい (かなしい (kanashii) — grieve), 悲しむ (かなしむ (kanashimu) — grieve).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 悲 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 悲 (grieve, sad, deplore, 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 悲 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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