How to Write 鮎 (freshwater trout, smelt) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 16-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) character 鮎 (“freshwater trout, smelt”), indexed under the 魚 (うお / さかな (fish)) radical. Practice 鮎 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 鮎 (あゆ (ayu) — freshwater trout), 鮎 (なまず (namazu) — freshwater trout).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (鮎)
Primary Radical (部首): 魚 — うお / さかな (fish)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 魚
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (デン, ネン) when 鮎 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あゆ, なまず) when 鮎 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (16画): At 16 strokes, 鮎 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 魚 (うお / さかな (fish)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 16 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 魚 (うお / さかな (fish))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 16 strokes under radical 魚.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 鮎
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 鮎 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 鮎 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 鮎 ("freshwater trout, smelt") is written with 16 strokes (16画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 魚 (うお / さかな (fish)) radical. At 16 strokes, 鮎 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 魚 (うお / さかな (fish)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 16 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 鮎?
For 鮎 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is デン, ネン and the Kunyomi is あゆ, なまず. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (デン, ネン) when 鮎 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あゆ, なまず) when 鮎 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 鮎 includes 鮎 (あゆ (ayu) — freshwater trout), 鮎 (なまず (namazu) — freshwater trout).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 鮎 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 16 strokes of 鮎 (freshwater trout, smelt), start with the 魚 (うお / さかな (fish)) 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 鮎 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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