How to Write 獄 (prison, jail) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 14-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 獄 (“prison, jail”), indexed under the 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog)) radical. Practice 獄 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 獄 (ゴク / ごく (goku) — prison).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (獄)
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 N1). 獄 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゴク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 獄 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 14 strokes under radical 犬.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 獄
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 獄 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 獄 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 獄 ("prison, jail") is written with 14 strokes (14画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog)) radical. At 14 strokes, 獄 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 獄?
For 獄 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ゴク and the Kunyomi is —. 獄 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゴク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 獄 includes 獄 (ゴク / ごく (goku) — prison).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 獄 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 獄 (prison, jail), 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 獄 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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