How to Write 腰 (loins, hips, waist, low wainscoting) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 腰 (“loins, hips, waist, low wainscoting”), indexed under the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical. Practice 腰 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 腰 (こし (koshi) — loins).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (腰)
Primary Radical (部首): 肉 — にく / にくづき (meat)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Meat, muscle, organs, and anatomy of the body
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨウ) when 腰 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (こし) when 腰 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 腰 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 13 strokes under radical 肉.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 腰
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 腰 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 腰 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 腰 ("loins, hips, waist, low wainscoting") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical. At 13 strokes, 腰 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 腰?
For 腰 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ヨウ and the Kunyomi is こし. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨウ) when 腰 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (こし) when 腰 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 腰 includes 腰 (こし (koshi) — loins).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 腰 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 腰 (loins, hips, waist, low wainscoting), start with the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) 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 腰 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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