How to Write 極 (extreme, pole, extremely, very, highly) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 極 (“extreme, pole, extremely, very, highly”), indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Practice 極 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 極める (きわめる (kiwameru) — extreme), 極まる (きわまる (kiwamaru) — extreme).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (極)
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 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョク, ゴク) when 極 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きわ.める, きわ.まる, きわ.まり, きわ.み, き.める, -ぎ.め, き.まる) when 極 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 極 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 木 (き / きへん (tree))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 木.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 極
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 極 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 極 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 極 ("extreme, pole, extremely, very, highly") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. At 12 strokes, 極 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 極?
For 極 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is キョク, ゴク and the Kunyomi is きわ.める, きわ.まる, きわ.まり, きわ.み, き.める, -ぎ.め, き.まる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョク, ゴク) when 極 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きわ.める, きわ.まる, きわ.まり, きわ.み, き.める, -ぎ.め, き.まる) when 極 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 極 includes 極める (きわめる (kiwameru) — extreme), 極まる (きわまる (kiwamaru) — extreme).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 極 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 極 (extreme, pole, extremely, very, highly), 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 極 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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