How to Write 苛 (torment, scold, chastise) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 苛 (“torment, scold, chastise”), indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Practice 苛 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 苛める (いじめる (ijimeru) — torment), 苛む (さいなむ (sainamu) — torment).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (苛)
Primary Radical (部首): 艸 — くさかんむり (grass)
Radical Position: Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri))
Semantic Theme: Herbs, grass, flowers, vegetation, and botanical life
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ) when 苛 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いじ.める, さいな.む, いらだ.つ, からい, こまかい) when 苛 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 苛 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position). Establish the 艸 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
艸 (meaning) + 可 (sound カ)
Derived from the meaning radical 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) and the phonetic component 可, giving the on-reading カ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 苛
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 苛 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 苛 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 苛 ("torment, scold, chastise") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 苛 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position). Establish the 艸 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 苛?
For 苛 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is カ and the Kunyomi is いじ.める, さいな.む, いらだ.つ, からい, こまかい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ) when 苛 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いじ.める, さいな.む, いらだ.つ, からい, こまかい) when 苛 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 苛 includes 苛める (いじめる (ijimeru) — torment), 苛む (さいなむ (sainamu) — torment).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 苛 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 苛 (torment, scold, chastise), start with the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) in the Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri)) 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 苛 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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