How to Write 昆 (descendants, elder brother, insect) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 昆 (“descendants, elder brother, insect”), indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Practice 昆 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 昆 (コン / こん (kon) — descendants).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (昆)
Primary Radical (部首): 日 — ひ / にち (sun/day)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Sun, daylight, time, brightness, and warmth
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). 昆 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コン) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 昆 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 日 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 8 strokes under radical 日.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 昆
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 昆 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 昆 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 昆 ("descendants, elder brother, insect") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 昆 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 日 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 昆?
For 昆 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is コン and the Kunyomi is —. 昆 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コン) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 昆 includes 昆 (コン / こん (kon) — descendants).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 昆 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 昆 (descendants, elder brother, insect), start with the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) 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 昆 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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