How to Write 鴻 (large bird, wild goose, large, great, powerful) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 17-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) character 鴻 (“large bird, wild goose, large, great, powerful”), indexed under the 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical. Practice 鴻 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 鴻 (おおとり (ootori) — large bird), 鴻 (ひしくい (hishikui) — large bird).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (鴻)
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 (コウ, ゴウ) when 鴻 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おおとり, ひしくい, おおがり) when 鴻 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (17画): At 17 strokes, 鴻 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 17 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 鳥 (とり (bird))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 17 strokes under radical 鳥.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 鴻
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 鴻 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 鴻 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 鴻 ("large bird, wild goose, large, great, powerful") is written with 17 strokes (17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 17 strokes, 鴻 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 17 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 鴻?
For 鴻 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is コウ, ゴウ and the Kunyomi is おおとり, ひしくい, おおがり. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ, ゴウ) when 鴻 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (おおとり, ひしくい, おおがり) when 鴻 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 鴻 includes 鴻 (おおとり (ootori) — large bird), 鴻 (ひしくい (hishikui) — large bird).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 鴻 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 17 strokes of 鴻 (large bird, wild goose, large, great, powerful), 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 鴻 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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