How to Write 衝 (collide, brunt, highway, opposition (astronomy), thrust) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 衝 (“collide, brunt, highway, opposition (astronomy), thrust”), indexed under the 行 (ぎょうがまえ (walk/go)) radical. Practice 衝 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 衝く (つく (tsuku) — collide).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (衝)
Primary Radical (部首): 行 — ぎょうがまえ (walk/go)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 行
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 衝 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つ.く) when 衝 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 衝 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 行 (ぎょうがまえ (walk/go)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
行 (meaning) + 重 (sound ジュウ)
Derived from the meaning radical 行 (ぎょうがまえ (walk/go)) and the phonetic component 重, giving the on-reading ジュウ / チョウ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 衝
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 衝 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 衝 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 衝 ("collide, brunt, highway, opposition (astronomy), thrust") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 行 (ぎょうがまえ (walk/go)) radical. At 15 strokes, 衝 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 行 (ぎょうがまえ (walk/go)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 衝?
For 衝 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ショウ and the Kunyomi is つ.く. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 衝 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つ.く) when 衝 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 衝 includes 衝く (つく (tsuku) — collide).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 衝 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 衝 (collide, brunt, highway, opposition (astronomy), thrust), start with the 行 (ぎょうがまえ (walk/go)) 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 衝 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N1 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N1 Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!