How to Write 虚 (void, emptiness, unpreparedness, crack, fissure) — 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 虚 (“void, emptiness, unpreparedness, crack, fissure”), indexed under the 虍 (とらかんむり (tiger)) radical. Practice 虚 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 虚しい (むなしい (munashii) — void), 虚ろ (うつろ (utsuro) — void).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (虚)
Primary Radical (部首): 虍 — とらかんむり (tiger)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 虍
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョ, コ) when 虚 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (むな.しい, うつ.ろ) when 虚 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 虚 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 虍 (とらかんむり (tiger)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 虍 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: 虍 (とらかんむり (tiger))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 虍.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 虚
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 虚 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 虚 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 虚 ("void, emptiness, unpreparedness, crack, fissure") 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 虍 (とらかんむり (tiger)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 虚 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 虍 (とらかんむり (tiger)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 虍 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 虚?
For 虚 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is キョ, コ and the Kunyomi is むな.しい, うつ.ろ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョ, コ) when 虚 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (むな.しい, うつ.ろ) when 虚 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 虚 includes 虚しい (むなしい (munashii) — void), 虚ろ (うつろ (utsuro) — void).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 虚 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 虚 (void, emptiness, unpreparedness, crack, fissure), start with the 虍 (とらかんむり (tiger)) 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 虚 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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