How to Write 昧 (dark, foolish) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 昧 (“dark, foolish”), indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Practice 昧 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 昧い (くらい (kurai) — dark), 昧る (むさぼる (musaboru) — dark).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (昧)
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). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (マイ, バイ) when 昧 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くら.い, むさぼ.る) when 昧 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 昧 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 7 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 9 strokes under radical 日.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 昧
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 昧 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 昧 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 昧 ("dark, foolish") is written with 9 strokes (9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 9 strokes, 昧 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 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 昧?
For 昧 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is マイ, バイ and the Kunyomi is くら.い, むさぼ.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (マイ, バイ) when 昧 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くら.い, むさぼ.る) when 昧 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 昧 includes 昧い (くらい (kurai) — dark), 昧る (むさぼる (musaboru) — dark).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 昧 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 昧 (dark, foolish), 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 昧 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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