How to Write 暗 (darkness, disappear, shade, informal, grow dark) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 暗 (“darkness, disappear, shade, informal, grow dark”), indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Practice 暗 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 暗い (くらい (kurai) — darkness), 暗む (くらむ (kuramu) — darkness).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (暗)
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 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (アン) when 暗 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くら.い, くら.む, くれ.る) when 暗 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 暗 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 13 strokes under radical 日.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 暗
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 暗 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 暗 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 暗 ("darkness, disappear, shade, informal, grow dark") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. At 13 strokes, 暗 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 暗?
For 暗 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is アン and the Kunyomi is くら.い, くら.む, くれ.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (アン) when 暗 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くら.い, くら.む, くれ.る) when 暗 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 暗 includes 暗い (くらい (kurai) — darkness), 暗む (くらむ (kuramu) — darkness).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 暗 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 暗 (darkness, disappear, shade, informal, grow dark), 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 暗 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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