How to Write 駆 (drive, run, gallop, advance, inspire) — 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 駆 (“drive, run, gallop, advance, inspire”), indexed under the 馬 (うま (horse)) radical. Practice 駆 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 駆ける (かける (kakeru) — drive), 駆る (かる (karu) — drive).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (駆)
Primary Radical (部首): 馬 — うま (horse)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 馬
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ク) when 駆 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か.ける, か.る) when 駆 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 駆 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 馬 (うま (horse)) radical (Standalone / Integrated 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: 馬 (うま (horse))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 14 strokes under radical 馬.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 駆
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 駆 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 駆 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 駆 ("drive, run, gallop, advance, inspire") 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 馬 (うま (horse)) radical. At 14 strokes, 駆 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 馬 (うま (horse)) radical (Standalone / Integrated 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 駆?
For 駆 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ク and the Kunyomi is か.ける, か.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ク) when 駆 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か.ける, か.る) when 駆 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 駆 includes 駆ける (かける (kakeru) — drive), 駆る (かる (karu) — drive).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 駆 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 駆 (drive, run, gallop, advance, inspire), start with the 馬 (うま (horse)) 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 駆 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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