How to Write 餅 (mochi rice cake) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 14-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 餅 (“mochi rice cake”), indexed under the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)) radical. Practice 餅 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 餅 (もち (mochi) — mochi rice cake), 餅 (もちい (mochii) — mochi rice cake).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (餅)
Primary Radical (部首): 食 — しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Food, meals, eating, dining, and cuisine
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヘイ, ヒョウ) when 餅 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (もち, もちい) when 餅 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 餅 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 14 strokes under radical 食.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 餅
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 餅 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 餅 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 餅 ("mochi rice cake") is written with 14 strokes (14画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)) radical. At 14 strokes, 餅 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 餅?
For 餅 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ヘイ, ヒョウ and the Kunyomi is もち, もちい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヘイ, ヒョウ) when 餅 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (もち, もちい) when 餅 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 餅 includes 餅 (もち (mochi) — mochi rice cake), 餅 (もちい (mochii) — mochi rice cake).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 餅 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 餅 (mochi rice cake), start with the 食 (しょく / しょくへん (eat/food)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) 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 餅 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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