How to Write 枯 (wither, die, dry up, be seasoned) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 枯 (“wither, die, dry up, be seasoned”), indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Practice 枯 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 枯れる (かれる (kareru) — wither), 枯らす (からす (karasu) — wither).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (枯)
Primary Radical (部首): 木 — き / きへん (tree)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Trees, plants, wooden artifacts, and forest nature
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コ) when 枯 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か.れる, か.らす) when 枯 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 枯 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 木 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
木 (meaning) + 古 (sound コ)
Derived from the meaning radical 木 (き / きへん (tree)) and the phonetic component 古, giving the on-reading コ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 枯
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 枯 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 枯 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 枯 ("wither, die, dry up, be seasoned") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 枯 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 木 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 枯?
For 枯 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is コ and the Kunyomi is か.れる, か.らす. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コ) when 枯 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か.れる, か.らす) when 枯 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 枯 includes 枯れる (かれる (kareru) — wither), 枯らす (からす (karasu) — wither).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 枯 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 枯 (wither, die, dry up, be seasoned), start with the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) 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 枯 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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