How to Write 警 (admonish, commandment) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 19-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 警 (“admonish, commandment”), indexed under the 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) radical. Practice 警 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 警める (いましめる (imashimeru) — admonish).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (警)
Primary Radical (部首): 言 — ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Speech, words, language, plans, and dialogue
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケイ) when 警 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いまし.める) when 警 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (19画): At 19 strokes, 警 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 19 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 19 strokes under radical 言.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 警
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 警 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 警 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 警 ("admonish, commandment") is written with 19 strokes (19画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) radical. At 19 strokes, 警 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 19 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 警?
For 警 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ケイ and the Kunyomi is いまし.める. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケイ) when 警 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いまし.める) when 警 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 警 includes 警める (いましめる (imashimeru) — admonish).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 警 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 19 strokes of 警 (admonish, commandment), start with the 言 (ことば / ごんべん (word/speech)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) 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 警 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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