How to Write 激 (violent, get excited, enraged, chafe, incite) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 16-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 激 (“violent, get excited, enraged, chafe, incite”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 激 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 激しい (はげしい (hageshii) — violent).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (激)
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 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゲキ) when 激 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はげ.しい) when 激 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (16画): At 16 strokes, 激 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 16 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 16 strokes under radical 水.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 激
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 激 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 激 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 激 ("violent, get excited, enraged, chafe, incite") is written with 16 strokes (16画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. At 16 strokes, 激 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 16 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 激?
For 激 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ゲキ and the Kunyomi is はげ.しい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゲキ) when 激 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はげ.しい) when 激 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 激 includes 激しい (はげしい (hageshii) — violent).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 激 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 16 strokes of 激 (violent, get excited, enraged, chafe, incite), 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 激 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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