How to Write 惜 (pity, be sparing of, frugal, stingy, regret) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 惜 (“pity, be sparing of, frugal, stingy, regret”), indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. Practice 惜 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 惜しい (おしい (oshii) — pity), 惜しむ (おしむ (oshimu) — pity).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (惜)
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 (セキ) when 惜 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (お.しい, お.しむ) when 惜 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 惜 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 9 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 11 strokes under radical 心.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 惜
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 惜 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 惜 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 惜 ("pity, be sparing of, frugal, stingy, regret") is written with 11 strokes (11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 11 strokes, 惜 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 惜?
For 惜 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is セキ and the Kunyomi is お.しい, お.しむ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セキ) when 惜 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (お.しい, お.しむ) when 惜 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 惜 includes 惜しい (おしい (oshii) — pity), 惜しむ (おしむ (oshimu) — pity).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 惜 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 惜 (pity, be sparing of, frugal, stingy, 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 惜 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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