How to Write 難 (difficult, impossible, trouble, accident, defect) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 18-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 難 (“difficult, impossible, trouble, accident, defect”), indexed under the 隹 (ふるとり (small bird)) radical. Practice 難 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 難い (かたい (katai) — difficult), 難い (がたい (gatai) — difficult).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (難)
Primary Radical (部首): 隹 — ふるとり (small bird)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 隹
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ナン) when 難 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かた.い, -がた.い, むずか.しい, むづか.しい, むつか.しい, -にく.い) when 難 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (18画): At 18 strokes, 難 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 隹 (ふるとり (small bird)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 18 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 隹 (ふるとり (small bird))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 18 strokes under radical 隹.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 難
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 難 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 難 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 難 ("difficult, impossible, trouble, accident, defect") is written with 18 strokes (18画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 隹 (ふるとり (small bird)) radical. At 18 strokes, 難 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 隹 (ふるとり (small bird)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 18 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 難?
For 難 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ナン and the Kunyomi is かた.い, -がた.い, むずか.しい, むづか.しい, むつか.しい, -にく.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ナン) when 難 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かた.い, -がた.い, むずか.しい, むづか.しい, むつか.しい, -にく.い) when 難 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 難 includes 難い (かたい (katai) — difficult), 難い (がたい (gatai) — difficult).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 難 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 18 strokes of 難 (difficult, impossible, trouble, accident, defect), start with the 隹 (ふるとり (small bird)) 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 難 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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