How to Write 競 (emulate, compete with, bid, sell at auction, bout) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 20-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 競 (“emulate, compete with, bid, sell at auction, bout”), indexed under the 立 (たつ (stand)) radical. Practice 競 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 競う (きそう (kisou) — emulate), 競る (せる (seru) — emulate).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (競)
Primary Radical (部首): 立 — たつ (stand)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 立
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョウ, ケイ) when 競 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きそ.う, せ.る, くら.べる) when 競 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (20画): At 20 strokes, 競 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 立 (たつ (stand)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 20 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 立 (たつ (stand))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 20 strokes under radical 立.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 競
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 競 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 競 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 競 ("emulate, compete with, bid, sell at auction, bout") is written with 20 strokes (20画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 立 (たつ (stand)) radical. At 20 strokes, 競 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 立 (たつ (stand)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 20 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 競?
For 競 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is キョウ, ケイ and the Kunyomi is きそ.う, せ.る, くら.べる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョウ, ケイ) when 競 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きそ.う, せ.る, くら.べる) when 競 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 競 includes 競う (きそう (kisou) — emulate), 競る (せる (seru) — emulate).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 競 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 20 strokes of 競 (emulate, compete with, bid, sell at auction, bout), start with the 立 (たつ (stand)) 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 競 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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