How to Write 擦 (grate, rub, scratch, scrape, chafe) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 17-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 擦 (“grate, rub, scratch, scrape, chafe”), indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Practice 擦 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 擦る (する (suru) — grate), 擦れる (すれる (sureru) — grate).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (擦)
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 (サツ) when 擦 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (す.る, す.れる, -ず.れ, こす.る, こす.れる) when 擦 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (17画): At 17 strokes, 擦 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 17 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 手 (て / てへん (hand))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 17 strokes under radical 手.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 擦
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 擦 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 擦 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 擦 ("grate, rub, scratch, scrape, chafe") is written with 17 strokes (17画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. At 17 strokes, 擦 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 17 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 擦?
For 擦 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is サツ and the Kunyomi is す.る, す.れる, -ず.れ, こす.る, こす.れる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サツ) when 擦 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (す.る, す.れる, -ず.れ, こす.る, こす.れる) when 擦 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 擦 includes 擦る (する (suru) — grate), 擦れる (すれる (sureru) — grate).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 擦 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 17 strokes of 擦 (grate, rub, scratch, scrape, chafe), 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 擦 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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