How to Write 秘 (secret, conceal) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 秘 (“secret, conceal”), indexed under the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) radical. Practice 秘 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 秘める (ひめる (himeru) — secret), 秘か (ひそか (hisoka) — secret).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (秘)
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 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヒ) when 秘 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひ.める, ひそ.か, かく.す) when 秘 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 秘 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 8 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 10 strokes under radical 禾.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 秘
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 秘 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 秘 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 秘 ("secret, conceal") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 秘 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 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 秘?
For 秘 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ヒ and the Kunyomi is ひ.める, ひそ.か, かく.す. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヒ) when 秘 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひ.める, ひそ.か, かく.す) when 秘 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 秘 includes 秘める (ひめる (himeru) — secret), 秘か (ひそか (hisoka) — secret).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 秘 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 秘 (secret, conceal), 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 秘 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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