How to Write 賊 (burglar, rebel, traitor, robber) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 賊 (“burglar, rebel, traitor, robber”), indexed under the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical. Practice 賊 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 賊 (ゾク / ぞく (zoku) — burglar).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (賊)
Primary Radical (部首): 貝 — かい (shell)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Ancient cowrie money, commerce, buying, and wealth
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). 賊 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゾク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 賊 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 貝 (かい (shell))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 13 strokes under radical 貝.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 賊
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 賊 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 賊 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 賊 ("burglar, rebel, traitor, robber") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical. At 13 strokes, 賊 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 貝 (かい (shell)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 賊?
For 賊 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ゾク and the Kunyomi is —. 賊 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゾク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 賊 includes 賊 (ゾク / ぞく (zoku) — burglar).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 賊 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 賊 (burglar, rebel, traitor, robber), start with the 貝 (かい (shell)) 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 賊 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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