How to Write 潜 (submerge, conceal, hide, lower (voice), hush) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 潜 (“submerge, conceal, hide, lower (voice), hush”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 潜 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 潜む (ひそむ (hisomu) — submerge), 潜る (もぐる (moguru) — submerge).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (潜)
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 (セン) when 潜 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひそ.む, もぐ.る, かく.れる, くぐ.る, ひそ.める) when 潜 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 潜 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 水 (みず / さんずい (water))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 15 strokes under radical 水.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 潜
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 潜 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 潜 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 潜 ("submerge, conceal, hide, lower (voice), hush") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. At 15 strokes, 潜 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 潜?
For 潜 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is セン and the Kunyomi is ひそ.む, もぐ.る, かく.れる, くぐ.る, ひそ.める. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セン) when 潜 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひそ.む, もぐ.る, かく.れる, くぐ.る, ひそ.める) when 潜 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 潜 includes 潜む (ひそむ (hisomu) — submerge), 潜る (もぐる (moguru) — submerge).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 潜 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 潜 (submerge, conceal, hide, lower (voice), hush), 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 潜 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N1 Characters to Practice Next
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