How to Write 渋 (astringent, hesitate, reluctant, have diarrhea) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 渋 (“astringent, hesitate, reluctant, have diarrhea”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 渋 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 渋 (しぶ (shibu) — astringent), 渋い (しぶい (shibui) — astringent).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (渋)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジュウ, シュウ) when 渋 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しぶ, しぶ.い, しぶ.る) when 渋 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 渋 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 9 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 11 strokes under radical 水.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 渋
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 渋 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 渋 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 渋 ("astringent, hesitate, reluctant, have diarrhea") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 渋 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 渋?
For 渋 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ジュウ, シュウ and the Kunyomi is しぶ, しぶ.い, しぶ.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジュウ, シュウ) when 渋 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しぶ, しぶ.い, しぶ.る) when 渋 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 渋 includes 渋 (しぶ (shibu) — astringent), 渋い (しぶい (shibui) — astringent).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 渋 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 渋 (astringent, hesitate, reluctant, have diarrhea), 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 渋 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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