How to Write 頰 (cheeks, jaw) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 16-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 頰 (“cheeks, jaw”), indexed under the 頁 (おおがい (head/page)) radical. Practice 頰 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 頰 (ほお (hoo) — cheeks), 頰 (ほほ (hoho) — cheeks).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (頰)
Primary Radical (部首): 頁 — おおがい (head/page)
Radical Position: Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri))
Semantic Theme: Head, face, forehead, titles, and reading pages
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョウ) when 頰 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ほお, ほほ) when 頰 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (16画): At 16 strokes, 頰 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 頁 (おおがい (head/page)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 16 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 頁 (おおがい (head/page))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 16 strokes under radical 頁.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 頰
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 頰 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 頰 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 頰 ("cheeks, jaw") is written with 16 strokes (16画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 頁 (おおがい (head/page)) radical. At 16 strokes, 頰 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 頁 (おおがい (head/page)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 16 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 頰?
For 頰 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is キョウ and the Kunyomi is ほお, ほほ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョウ) when 頰 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ほお, ほほ) when 頰 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 頰 includes 頰 (ほお (hoo) — cheeks), 頰 (ほほ (hoho) — cheeks).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 頰 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 16 strokes of 頰 (cheeks, jaw), start with the 頁 (おおがい (head/page)) in the Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri)) 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 頰 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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