How to Write 礁 (reef, sunken rock) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 17-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 礁 (“reef, sunken rock”), indexed under the 石 (いし (stone)) radical. Practice 礁 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 礁 (ショウ / しょう (shou) — reef).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (礁)
Primary Radical (部首): 石 — いし (stone)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 石
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). 礁 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (17画): At 17 strokes, 礁 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 石 (いし (stone)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 17 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 石 (いし (stone))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 17 strokes under radical 石.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 礁
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 礁 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 礁 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 礁 ("reef, sunken rock") is written with 17 strokes (17画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 石 (いし (stone)) radical. At 17 strokes, 礁 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 石 (いし (stone)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 17 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 礁?
For 礁 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ショウ and the Kunyomi is —. 礁 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 礁 includes 礁 (ショウ / しょう (shou) — reef).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 礁 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 17 strokes of 礁 (reef, sunken rock), start with the 石 (いし (stone)) 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 礁 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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