How to Write 括 (fasten, tie up, arrest, constrict) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 括 (“fasten, tie up, arrest, constrict”), indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Practice 括 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 括る (くくる (kukuru) — fasten).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (括)
Primary Radical (部首): 手 — て / てへん (hand)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Hands, holding, grasping, craft, and manual action
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カツ) when 括 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くく.る) when 括 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 括 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 手 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 手 (て / てへん (hand))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 手.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 括
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 括 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 括 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 括 ("fasten, tie up, arrest, constrict") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 括 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 手 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 括?
For 括 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is カツ and the Kunyomi is くく.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カツ) when 括 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くく.る) when 括 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 括 includes 括る (くくる (kukuru) — fasten).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 括 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 括 (fasten, tie up, arrest, constrict), start with the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) 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 括 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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