How to Write 狙 (aim at, sight, shadow, stalk) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 狙 (“aim at, sight, shadow, stalk”), indexed under the 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog)) radical. Practice 狙 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 狙う (ねらう (nerau) — aim at), 狙い (ねらい (nerai) — aim at).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (狙)
Primary Radical (部首): 犬 — いぬ / けものへん (dog)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 犬
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソ, ショ) when 狙 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ねら.う, ねら.い) when 狙 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 狙 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 犬 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 8 strokes under radical 犬.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 狙
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 狙 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 狙 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 狙 ("aim at, sight, shadow, stalk") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 狙 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 犬 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 狙?
For 狙 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ソ, ショ and the Kunyomi is ねら.う, ねら.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソ, ショ) when 狙 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ねら.う, ねら.い) when 狙 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 狙 includes 狙う (ねらう (nerau) — aim at), 狙い (ねらい (nerai) — aim at).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 狙 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 狙 (aim at, sight, shadow, stalk), start with the 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog)) 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 狙 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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