How to Write 故 (happenstance, especially, intentionally, reason, cause) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 故 (“happenstance, especially, intentionally, reason, cause”), indexed under the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) radical. Practice 故 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 故 (ゆえ (yue) — happenstance), 故い (ふるい (furui) — happenstance).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (故)
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 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コ) when 故 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ゆえ, ふる.い, もと) when 故 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 故 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 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
攴 (meaning) + 古 (sound コ)
Derived from the meaning radical 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) and the phonetic component 古, giving the on-reading コ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 故
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 故 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 故 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 故 ("happenstance, especially, intentionally, reason, cause") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 故 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 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 故?
For 故 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is コ and the Kunyomi is ゆえ, ふる.い, もと. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コ) when 故 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ゆえ, ふる.い, もと) when 故 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 故 includes 故 (ゆえ (yue) — happenstance), 故い (ふるい (furui) — happenstance).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 故 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 故 (happenstance, especially, intentionally, reason, cause), 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 故 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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