How to Write 魔 (witch, demon, evil spirit) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 21-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 魔 (“witch, demon, evil spirit”), indexed under the 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon)) radical. Practice 魔 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 魔 (マ / ま (ma) — witch).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (魔)
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). 魔 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (マ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (21画): At 21 strokes, 魔 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 21 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 21 strokes under radical 鬼.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 魔
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 魔 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 魔 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 魔 ("witch, demon, evil spirit") is written with 21 strokes (21画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon)) radical. At 21 strokes, 魔 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 鬼 (おに (ghost/demon)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 21 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 魔?
For 魔 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is マ and the Kunyomi is —. 魔 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (マ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 魔 includes 魔 (マ / ま (ma) — witch).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 魔 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 21 strokes of 魔 (witch, demon, evil spirit), 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 魔 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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