How to Write 紅 (crimson, deep red) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 紅 (“crimson, deep red”), indexed under the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) radical. Practice 紅 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 紅 (べに (beni) — crimson), 紅 (くれない (kurenai) — crimson).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (紅)
Primary Radical (部首): 糸 — いと / いとへん (silk/thread)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Silk, threads, textiles, weaving, and connecting ties
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ, ク) when 紅 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (べに, くれない, あか.い) when 紅 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 紅 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 糸 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
糸 (meaning) + 工 (sound コウ)
Derived from the meaning radical 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) and the phonetic component 工, giving the on-reading コウ / ク.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 紅
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 紅 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 紅 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 紅 ("crimson, deep red") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 紅 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 糸 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 紅?
For 紅 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is コウ, ク and the Kunyomi is べに, くれない, あか.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ, ク) when 紅 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (べに, くれない, あか.い) when 紅 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 紅 includes 紅 (べに (beni) — crimson), 紅 (くれない (kurenai) — crimson).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 紅 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 紅 (crimson, deep red), start with the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) 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 紅 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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