How to Write 革 (leather, skin, reform, become serious) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 革 (“leather, skin, reform, become serious”), indexed under the 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) radical. Practice 革 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 革 (かわ (kawa) — leather).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (革)
Primary Radical (部首): 革 — かわのかわ (leather)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 革
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カク) when 革 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かわ) when 革 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 革 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 革 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 革 (かわのかわ (leather))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 革.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 革
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 革 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 革 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 革 ("leather, skin, reform, become serious") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 革 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 革 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 革?
For 革 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is カク and the Kunyomi is かわ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カク) when 革 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かわ) when 革 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 革 includes 革 (かわ (kawa) — leather).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 革 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 革 (leather, skin, reform, become serious), start with the 革 (かわのかわ (leather)) 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 革 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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