How to Write 髄 (marrow, pith, essence) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 19-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 髄 (“marrow, pith, essence”), indexed under the 骨 (ほね (bone)) radical. Practice 髄 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 髄 (ズイ / ずい (zui) — marrow).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (髄)
Primary Radical (部首): 骨 — ほね (bone)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 骨
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). 髄 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ズイ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (19画): At 19 strokes, 髄 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 骨 (ほね (bone)) radical (Standalone / Integrated 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: 骨 (ほね (bone))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 19 strokes under radical 骨.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 髄
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 髄 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 髄 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 髄 ("marrow, pith, essence") is written with 19 strokes (19画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 骨 (ほね (bone)) radical. At 19 strokes, 髄 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 骨 (ほね (bone)) radical (Standalone / Integrated 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 髄?
For 髄 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ズイ and the Kunyomi is —. 髄 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ズイ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 髄 includes 髄 (ズイ / ずい (zui) — marrow).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 髄 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 19 strokes of 髄 (marrow, pith, essence), start with the 骨 (ほね (bone)) 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 髄 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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