How to Write 敵 (enemy, foe, opponent) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 敵 (“enemy, foe, opponent”), indexed under the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) radical. Practice 敵 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 敵 (かたき (kataki) — enemy), 敵 (あだ (ada) — enemy).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (敵)
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 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (テキ) when 敵 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かたき, あだ, かな.う) when 敵 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 敵 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 15 strokes under radical 攴.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 敵
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 敵 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 敵 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 敵 ("enemy, foe, opponent") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) radical. At 15 strokes, 敵 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 攴 (ぼくづくり (strike)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 敵?
For 敵 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is テキ and the Kunyomi is かたき, あだ, かな.う. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (テキ) when 敵 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かたき, あだ, かな.う) when 敵 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 敵 includes 敵 (かたき (kataki) — enemy), 敵 (あだ (ada) — enemy).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 敵 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 敵 (enemy, foe, opponent), 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 敵 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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