How to Write 臭 (stinking, ill-smelling, suspicious looking, odor, savor) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 臭 (“stinking, ill-smelling, suspicious looking, odor, savor”), indexed under the 自 (みずから (self)) radical. Practice 臭 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 臭い (くさい (kusai) — stinking), 臭い (くさい (kusai) — stinking).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (臭)
Primary Radical (部首): 自 — みずから (self)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 自
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シュウ) when 臭 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くさ.い, -くさ.い, にお.う, にお.い) when 臭 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 臭 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 自 (みずから (self)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 自 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 自 (みずから (self))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 自.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 臭
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 臭 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 臭 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 臭 ("stinking, ill-smelling, suspicious looking, odor, savor") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 自 (みずから (self)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 臭 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 自 (みずから (self)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 自 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 臭?
For 臭 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is シュウ and the Kunyomi is くさ.い, -くさ.い, にお.う, にお.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シュウ) when 臭 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くさ.い, -くさ.い, にお.う, にお.い) when 臭 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 臭 includes 臭い (くさい (kusai) — stinking), 臭い (くさい (kusai) — stinking).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 臭 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 臭 (stinking, ill-smelling, suspicious looking, odor, savor), start with the 自 (みずから (self)) 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 臭 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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