How to Write 萎 (wither, droop, lame) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 萎 (“wither, droop, lame”), indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Practice 萎 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 萎 (な (na) — wither), 萎れる (しおれる (shioreru) — wither).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (萎)
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 (イ) when 萎 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (な, しお.れる, しな.びる, しぼ.む, な.える) when 萎 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 萎 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 9 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 11 strokes under radical 艸.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 萎
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 萎 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 萎 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 萎 ("wither, droop, lame") is written with 11 strokes (11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 11 strokes, 萎 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 萎?
For 萎 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is イ and the Kunyomi is な, しお.れる, しな.びる, しぼ.む, な.える. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (イ) when 萎 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (な, しお.れる, しな.びる, しぼ.む, な.える) when 萎 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 萎 includes 萎 (な (na) — wither), 萎れる (しおれる (shioreru) — wither).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 萎 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 萎 (wither, droop, lame), 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 萎 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N1 Characters to Practice Next
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