How to Write 荒 (laid waste, rough, rude, wild) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 荒 (“laid waste, rough, rude, wild”), indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Practice 荒 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 荒らす (あらす (arasu) — laid waste), 荒れる (あれる (areru) — laid waste).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (荒)
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 N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ) when 荒 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あ.らす, あ.れる, あら.い, すさ.ぶ, すさ.む, あ.らし) when 荒 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 荒 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 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 艸 (くさかんむり (grass))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 艸.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 荒
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 荒 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 荒 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 荒 ("laid waste, rough, rude, wild") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N2 (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 9 strokes, 荒 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 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 荒?
For 荒 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is コウ and the Kunyomi is あ.らす, あ.れる, あら.い, すさ.ぶ, すさ.む, あ.らし. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ) when 荒 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あ.らす, あ.れる, あら.い, すさ.ぶ, すさ.む, あ.らし) when 荒 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 荒 includes 荒らす (あらす (arasu) — laid waste), 荒れる (あれる (areru) — laid waste).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 荒 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 荒 (laid waste, rough, rude, wild), 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 荒 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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