How to Write 辛 (spicy, bitter, hot, acrid) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 辛 (“spicy, bitter, hot, acrid”), indexed under the 辛 (からい (bitter/spicy)) radical. Practice 辛 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 辛い (からい (karai) — spicy), 辛い (つらい (tsurai) — spicy).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (辛)
Primary Radical (部首): 辛 — からい (bitter/spicy)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 辛
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シン) when 辛 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (から.い, つら.い, -づら.い, かのと) when 辛 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 辛 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 辛 (からい (bitter/spicy)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 辛 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 辛 (からい (bitter/spicy))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 7 strokes under radical 辛.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 辛
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 辛 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 辛 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 辛 ("spicy, bitter, hot, acrid") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 辛 (からい (bitter/spicy)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 辛 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 辛 (からい (bitter/spicy)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 辛 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 辛?
For 辛 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is シン and the Kunyomi is から.い, つら.い, -づら.い, かのと. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シン) when 辛 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (から.い, つら.い, -づら.い, かのと) when 辛 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 辛 includes 辛い (からい (karai) — spicy), 辛い (つらい (tsurai) — spicy).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 辛 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 辛 (spicy, bitter, hot, acrid), start with the 辛 (からい (bitter/spicy)) 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 辛 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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