How to Write 鯨 (whale) — 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 鯨 (“whale”), indexed under the 魚 (うお / さかな (fish)) radical. Practice 鯨 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 鯨 (くじら (kujira) — whale).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (鯨)
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 (ゲイ) when 鯨 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くじら) when 鯨 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (19画): At 19 strokes, 鯨 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 19 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
魚 (meaning) + 京 (sound キョウ)
Derived from the meaning radical 魚 (うお / さかな (fish)) and the phonetic component 京, giving the on-reading キョウ / ケイ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 鯨
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 鯨 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 鯨 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 鯨 ("whale") 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 魚 (うお / さかな (fish)) radical. At 19 strokes, 鯨 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 19 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 鯨?
For 鯨 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ゲイ and the Kunyomi is くじら. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゲイ) when 鯨 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くじら) when 鯨 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 鯨 includes 鯨 (くじら (kujira) — whale).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 鯨 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 19 strokes of 鯨 (whale), 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 鯨 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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