How to Write 窮 (hard up, destitute, suffer, perplexed, cornered) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 窮 (“hard up, destitute, suffer, perplexed, cornered”), indexed under the 穴 (あな / あなかんむり (cave/hole)) radical. Practice 窮 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 窮める (きわめる (kiwameru) — hard up), 窮まる (きわまる (kiwamaru) — hard up).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (窮)
Primary Radical (部首): 穴 — あな / あなかんむり (cave/hole)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 穴
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キュウ, キョウ) when 窮 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きわ.める, きわ.まる, きわ.まり, きわ.み) when 窮 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 窮 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 穴 (あな / あなかんむり (cave/hole)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 穴 (あな / あなかんむり (cave/hole))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 15 strokes under radical 穴.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 窮
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 窮 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 窮 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 窮 ("hard up, destitute, suffer, perplexed, cornered") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 穴 (あな / あなかんむり (cave/hole)) radical. At 15 strokes, 窮 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 穴 (あな / あなかんむり (cave/hole)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 窮?
For 窮 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is キュウ, キョウ and the Kunyomi is きわ.める, きわ.まる, きわ.まり, きわ.み. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キュウ, キョウ) when 窮 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きわ.める, きわ.まる, きわ.まり, きわ.み) when 窮 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 窮 includes 窮める (きわめる (kiwameru) — hard up), 窮まる (きわまる (kiwamaru) — hard up).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 窮 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 窮 (hard up, destitute, suffer, perplexed, cornered), start with the 穴 (あな / あなかんむり (cave/hole)) 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 窮 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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