How to Write 慧 (wise) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) character 慧 (“wise”), indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. Practice 慧 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 慧 (さとい (satoi) — wise).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (慧)
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 9 (小学9年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケイ, エ) when 慧 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さとい) when 慧 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 慧 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 15 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 15 strokes under radical 心.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 慧
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 慧 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 慧 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 慧 ("wise") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9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 15 strokes, 慧 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 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 慧?
For 慧 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ケイ, エ and the Kunyomi is さとい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケイ, エ) when 慧 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さとい) when 慧 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 慧 includes 慧 (さとい (satoi) — wise).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 慧 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 慧 (wise), 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 慧 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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