How to Write 沖 (open sea, offing, rise high into sky) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 沖 (“open sea, offing, rise high into sky”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 沖 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 沖 (おき (oki) — open sea), 沖 (おきつ (okitsu) — open sea).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (沖)
Primary Radical (部首): 水 — みず / さんずい (water)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Water, rivers, liquids, and cleansing
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チュウ) when 沖 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おき, おきつ, ちゅう.する, わく) when 沖 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 沖 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 水 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 水 (みず / さんずい (water))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 7 strokes under radical 水.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 沖
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 沖 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 沖 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 沖 ("open sea, offing, rise high into sky") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 沖 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 水 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 沖?
For 沖 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is チュウ and the Kunyomi is おき, おきつ, ちゅう.する, わく. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チュウ) when 沖 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おき, おきつ, ちゅう.する, わく) when 沖 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 沖 includes 沖 (おき (oki) — open sea), 沖 (おきつ (okitsu) — open sea).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 沖 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 沖 (open sea, offing, rise high into sky), start with the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) 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 沖 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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