How to Write 秀 (excel, excellence, beauty, surpass) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 秀 (“excel, excellence, beauty, surpass”), indexed under the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) radical. Practice 秀 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 秀でる (ひいでる (hiideru) — excel).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (秀)
Primary Radical (部首): 禾 — のぎ / のぎへん (grain)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Grain crops, autumn harvest, agriculture, and grain measure
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シュウ) when 秀 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひい.でる) when 秀 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 秀 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 禾 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 7 strokes under radical 禾.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 秀
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 秀 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 秀 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 秀 ("excel, excellence, beauty, surpass") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 秀 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 禾 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 秀?
For 秀 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is シュウ and the Kunyomi is ひい.でる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シュウ) when 秀 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひい.でる) when 秀 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 秀 includes 秀でる (ひいでる (hiideru) — excel).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 秀 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 秀 (excel, excellence, beauty, surpass), start with the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) 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 秀 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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