How to Write 懸 (state of suspension, hang, depend, consult, distant) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 20-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 懸 (“state of suspension, hang, depend, consult, distant”), indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. Practice 懸 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 懸ける (かける (kakeru) — state of suspension), 懸かる (かかる (kakaru) — state of suspension).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (懸)
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 (ケン, ケ) when 懸 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か.ける, か.かる) when 懸 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (20画): At 20 strokes, 懸 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 20 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 20 strokes under radical 心.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 懸
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 懸 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 懸 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 懸 ("state of suspension, hang, depend, consult, distant") is written with 20 strokes (20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 20 strokes, 懸 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 20 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 懸?
For 懸 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ケン, ケ and the Kunyomi is か.ける, か.かる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケン, ケ) when 懸 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か.ける, か.かる) when 懸 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 懸 includes 懸ける (かける (kakeru) — state of suspension), 懸かる (かかる (kakaru) — state of suspension).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 懸 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 20 strokes of 懸 (state of suspension, hang, depend, consult, distant), 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 懸 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N1 Characters to Practice Next
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