How to Write 擬 (mimic, aim (a gun) at, nominate, imitate) — 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 擬 (“mimic, aim (a gun) at, nominate, imitate”), indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Practice 擬 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 擬い (まがい (magai) — mimic), 擬き (もどき (modoki) — mimic).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (擬)
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 (ギ) when 擬 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (まが.い, もど.き) when 擬 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (17画): At 17 strokes, 擬 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 擬
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 擬 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 擬 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 擬 ("mimic, aim (a gun) at, nominate, imitate") 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, 擬 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 擬?
For 擬 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ギ and the Kunyomi is まが.い, もど.き. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ギ) when 擬 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (まが.い, もど.き) when 擬 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 擬 includes 擬い (まがい (magai) — mimic), 擬き (もどき (modoki) — mimic).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 擬 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 17 strokes of 擬 (mimic, aim (a gun) at, nominate, imitate), 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 擬 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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