How to Write 控 (withdraw, draw in, hold back, refrain from, be moderate) — 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 控 (“withdraw, draw in, hold back, refrain from, be moderate”), indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Practice 控 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 控える (ひかえる (hikaeru) — withdraw), 控え (ひかえ (hikae) — withdraw).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (控)
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 (コウ) when 控 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひか.える, ひか.え) when 控 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 控 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 9 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 11 strokes under radical 手.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 控
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 控 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 控 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 控 ("withdraw, draw in, hold back, refrain from, be moderate") 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 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 控 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 控?
For 控 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is コウ and the Kunyomi is ひか.える, ひか.え. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ) when 控 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひか.える, ひか.え) when 控 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 控 includes 控える (ひかえる (hikaeru) — withdraw), 控え (ひかえ (hikae) — withdraw).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 控 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 控 (withdraw, draw in, hold back, refrain from, be moderate), 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 控 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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