How to Write 鮮 (fresh, vivid, clear, brilliant, Korea) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 17-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 鮮 (“fresh, vivid, clear, brilliant, Korea”), indexed under the 魚 (うお / さかな (fish)) radical. Practice 鮮 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 鮮やか (あざやか (azayaka) — fresh).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (鮮)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セン) when 鮮 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あざ.やか) when 鮮 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (17画): At 17 strokes, 鮮 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 17 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 17 strokes under radical 魚.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 鮮
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 鮮 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 鮮 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 鮮 ("fresh, vivid, clear, brilliant, Korea") is written with 17 strokes (17画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 魚 (うお / さかな (fish)) radical. At 17 strokes, 鮮 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 17 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 鮮?
For 鮮 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is セン and the Kunyomi is あざ.やか. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セン) when 鮮 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あざ.やか) when 鮮 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 鮮 includes 鮮やか (あざやか (azayaka) — fresh).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 鮮 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 17 strokes of 鮮 (fresh, vivid, clear, brilliant, Korea), 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 鮮 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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