How to Write 毒 (poison, virus, venom, germ, harm) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 毒 (“poison, virus, venom, germ, harm”), indexed under the 毋 (なかれ (do not)) radical. Practice 毒 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 毒 (ドク / どく (doku) — poison).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (毒)
Primary Radical (部首): 毋 — なかれ (do not)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 毋
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N2). 毒 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ドク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 毒 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 毋 (なかれ (do not)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 毋 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: 毋 (なかれ (do not))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 8 strokes under radical 毋.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 毒
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 毒 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 毒 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 毒 ("poison, virus, venom, germ, harm") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 毋 (なかれ (do not)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 毒 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 毋 (なかれ (do not)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 毋 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 毒?
For 毒 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ドク and the Kunyomi is —. 毒 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ドク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 毒 includes 毒 (ドク / どく (doku) — poison).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 毒 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 毒 (poison, virus, venom, germ, harm), start with the 毋 (なかれ (do not)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) 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 毒 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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