How to Write 願 (petition, request, vow, wish, hope) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 19-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 願 (“petition, request, vow, wish, hope”), indexed under the 頁 (おおがい (head/page)) radical. Practice 願 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 願う (ねがう (negau) — petition), 願 (ねがい (negai) — petition).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (願)
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 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ガン) when 願 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ねが.う, -ねがい) when 願 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (19画): At 19 strokes, 願 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 19 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 19 strokes under radical 頁.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 願
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 願 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 願 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 願 ("petition, request, vow, wish, hope") is written with 19 strokes (19画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 頁 (おおがい (head/page)) radical. At 19 strokes, 願 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 19 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 願?
For 願 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ガン and the Kunyomi is ねが.う, -ねがい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ガン) when 願 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ねが.う, -ねがい) when 願 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 願 includes 願う (ねがう (negau) — petition), 願 (ねがい (negai) — petition).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 願 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 19 strokes of 願 (petition, request, vow, wish, hope), 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 願 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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