How to Write 爽 (refreshing, bracing, resonant, sweet, clear) — 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 爽 (“refreshing, bracing, resonant, sweet, clear”), indexed under the 爻 (こう (mix)) radical. Practice 爽 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 爽らか (あきらか (akiraka) — refreshing), 爽やか (さわやか (sawayaka) — refreshing).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (爽)
Primary Radical (部首): 爻 — こう (mix)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 爻
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ) when 爽 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あき.らか, さわ.やか, たがう) when 爽 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 爽 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 爻 (こう (mix)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 爻 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: 爻 (こう (mix))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 爻.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 爽
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 爽 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 爽 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 爽 ("refreshing, bracing, resonant, sweet, clear") 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 爻 (こう (mix)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 爽 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 爻 (こう (mix)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 爻 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 爽?
For 爽 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ソウ and the Kunyomi is あき.らか, さわ.やか, たがう. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ) when 爽 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あき.らか, さわ.やか, たがう) when 爽 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 爽 includes 爽らか (あきらか (akiraka) — refreshing), 爽やか (さわやか (sawayaka) — refreshing).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 爽 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 爽 (refreshing, bracing, resonant, sweet, clear), start with the 爻 (こう (mix)) 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 爽 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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