How to Write 鳩 (pigeon, dove) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) character 鳩 (“pigeon, dove”), indexed under the 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical. Practice 鳩 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 鳩 (はと (hato) — pigeon), 鳩める (あつめる (atsumeru) — pigeon).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (鳩)
Primary Radical (部首): 鳥 — とり (bird)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 鳥
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キュウ, ク) when 鳩 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はと, あつ.める) when 鳩 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 鳩 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 鳥 (とり (bird))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 13 strokes under radical 鳥.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 鳩
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 鳩 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 鳩 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 鳩 ("pigeon, dove") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical. At 13 strokes, 鳩 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 鳩?
For 鳩 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is キュウ, ク and the Kunyomi is はと, あつ.める. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キュウ, ク) when 鳩 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はと, あつ.める) when 鳩 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 鳩 includes 鳩 (はと (hato) — pigeon), 鳩める (あつめる (atsumeru) — pigeon).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 鳩 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 鳩 (pigeon, dove), start with the 鳥 (とり (bird)) 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 鳩 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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