How to Write 獣 (animal, beast) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 16-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 獣 (“animal, beast”), indexed under the 犬 (いぬ / けものへん (dog)) radical. Practice 獣 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 獣 (けもの (kemono) — animal), 獣 (けだもの (kedamono) — animal).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (獣)
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). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジュウ) when 獣 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (けもの, けだもの) when 獣 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (16画): At 16 strokes, 獣 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 16 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 16 strokes under radical 犬.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 獣
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 獣 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 獣 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 獣 ("animal, beast") is written with 16 strokes (16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 16 strokes, 獣 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 16 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 獣?
For 獣 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ジュウ and the Kunyomi is けもの, けだもの. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジュウ) when 獣 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (けもの, けだもの) when 獣 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 獣 includes 獣 (けもの (kemono) — animal), 獣 (けだもの (kedamono) — animal).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 獣 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 16 strokes of 獣 (animal, beast), 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 獣 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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