How to Write 霊 (spirits, soul) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 霊 (“spirits, soul”), indexed under the 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) radical. Practice 霊 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 霊 (たま (tama) — spirits).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (霊)
Primary Radical (部首): 雨 — あめ / あめかんむり (rain)
Radical Position: Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri))
Semantic Theme: Rain, thunder, clouds, frost, snow, and atmospheric phenomena
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ, リョウ) when 霊 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (たま) when 霊 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 霊 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 15 strokes under radical 雨.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 霊
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 霊 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 霊 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 霊 ("spirits, soul") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) radical. At 15 strokes, 霊 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 霊?
For 霊 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is レイ, リョウ and the Kunyomi is たま. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ, リョウ) when 霊 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (たま) when 霊 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 霊 includes 霊 (たま (tama) — spirits).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 霊 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 霊 (spirits, soul), start with the 雨 (あめ / あめかんむり (rain)) in the Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri)) 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 霊 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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