How to Write 驚 (wonder, be surprised, frightened, amazed) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 22-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 驚 (“wonder, be surprised, frightened, amazed”), indexed under the 馬 (うま (horse)) radical. Practice 驚 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 驚く (おどろく (odoroku) — wonder), 驚かす (おどろかす (odorokasu) — wonder).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (驚)
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 (キョウ) when 驚 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おどろ.く, おどろ.かす) when 驚 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (22画): At 22 strokes, 驚 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 22 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 馬 (うま (horse))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 22 strokes under radical 馬.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 驚
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 驚 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 驚 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 驚 ("wonder, be surprised, frightened, amazed") is written with 22 strokes (22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 22 strokes, 驚 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 22 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 驚?
For 驚 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is キョウ and the Kunyomi is おどろ.く, おどろ.かす. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キョウ) when 驚 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おどろ.く, おどろ.かす) when 驚 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 驚 includes 驚く (おどろく (odoroku) — wonder), 驚かす (おどろかす (odorokasu) — wonder).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 驚 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 22 strokes of 驚 (wonder, be surprised, frightened, amazed), 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 驚 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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