How to Write 攻 (aggression, attack, criticize, polish) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 攻 (“aggression, attack, criticize, polish”), indexed under the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) radical. Practice 攻 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 攻める (せめる (semeru) — aggression).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (攻)
Primary Radical (部首): 攴 — ぼくづくり (strike)
Radical Position: Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri))
Semantic Theme: Tapping, governing, discipline, and intentional action
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ) when 攻 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (せ.める) when 攻 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 攻 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position). Establish the 攴 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
攴 (meaning) + 工 (sound コウ)
Derived from the meaning radical 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) and the phonetic component 工, giving the on-reading コウ / ク.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 攻
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 攻 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 攻 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 攻 ("aggression, attack, criticize, polish") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 攻 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position). Establish the 攴 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 攻?
For 攻 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is コウ and the Kunyomi is せ.める. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ) when 攻 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (せ.める) when 攻 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 攻 includes 攻める (せめる (semeru) — aggression).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 攻 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 攻 (aggression, attack, criticize, polish), start with the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) in the Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri)) 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 攻 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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