How to Write 鬼 (ghost, devil) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 鬼 (“ghost, devil”), indexed under the 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon)) radical. Practice 鬼 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 鬼 (おに (oni) — ghost), 鬼 (おに (oni) — ghost).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (鬼)
Primary Radical (部首): 鬼 — おに (ghost/demon)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 鬼
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キ) when 鬼 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おに, おに-) when 鬼 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 鬼 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 鬼 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 10 strokes under radical 鬼.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 鬼
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 鬼 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 鬼 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 鬼 ("ghost, devil") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 鬼 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 鬼 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 鬼?
For 鬼 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is キ and the Kunyomi is おに, おに-. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キ) when 鬼 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おに, おに-) when 鬼 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 鬼 includes 鬼 (おに (oni) — ghost), 鬼 (おに (oni) — ghost).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 鬼 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 鬼 (ghost, devil), start with the 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon)) 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 鬼 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N1 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N1 Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!