How to Write 衰 (decline, wane, weaken) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 衰 (“decline, wane, weaken”), indexed under the 衣 (ころも / ころもへん (clothes)) radical. Practice 衰 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 衰える (おとろえる (otoroeru) — decline).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (衰)
Primary Radical (部首): 衣 — ころも / ころもへん (clothes)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 衣
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (スイ) when 衰 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おとろ.える) when 衰 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 衰 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 衣 (ころも / ころもへん (clothes)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 衣 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 衣 (ころも / ころもへん (clothes))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 10 strokes under radical 衣.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 衰
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 衰 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 衰 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 衰 ("decline, wane, weaken") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 衣 (ころも / ころもへん (clothes)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 衰 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 衣 (ころも / ころもへん (clothes)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 衣 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 衰?
For 衰 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is スイ and the Kunyomi is おとろ.える. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (スイ) when 衰 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おとろ.える) when 衰 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 衰 includes 衰える (おとろえる (otoroeru) — decline).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 衰 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 衰 (decline, wane, weaken), start with the 衣 (ころも / ころもへん (clothes)) 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 衰 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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