How to Write 香 (incense, smell, perfume) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 香 (“incense, smell, perfume”), indexed under the 香 (においこう (fragrance)) radical. Practice 香 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 香 (か (ka) — incense), 香り (かおり (kaori) — incense).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (香)
Primary Radical (部首): 香 — においこう (fragrance)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 香
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ, キョウ) when 香 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か, かお.り, かお.る) when 香 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 香 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 香 (においこう (fragrance)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 香 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: 香 (においこう (fragrance))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 香.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 香
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 香 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 香 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 香 ("incense, smell, perfume") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 香 (においこう (fragrance)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 香 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 香 (においこう (fragrance)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 香 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 香?
For 香 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is コウ, キョウ and the Kunyomi is か, かお.り, かお.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ, キョウ) when 香 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か, かお.り, かお.る) when 香 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 香 includes 香 (か (ka) — incense), 香り (かおり (kaori) — incense).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 香 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 香 (incense, smell, perfume), start with the 香 (においこう (fragrance)) 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 香 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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