How to Write 憂 (melancholy, grieve, lament, be anxious, sad) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 憂 (“melancholy, grieve, lament, be anxious, sad”), indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. Practice 憂 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 憂える (うれえる (ureeru) — melancholy), 憂い (うれい (urei) — melancholy).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (憂)
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 (ユウ) when 憂 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うれ.える, うれ.い, う.い, う.き) when 憂 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 憂 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 憂
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 憂 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 憂 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 憂 ("melancholy, grieve, lament, be anxious, sad") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8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, 憂 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 憂?
For 憂 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ユウ and the Kunyomi is うれ.える, うれ.い, う.い, う.き. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ユウ) when 憂 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うれ.える, うれ.い, う.い, う.き) when 憂 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 憂 includes 憂える (うれえる (ureeru) — melancholy), 憂い (うれい (urei) — melancholy).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 憂 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 憂 (melancholy, grieve, lament, be anxious, sad), 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 憂 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N1 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N1 Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!