How to Write 鶏 (chicken) — 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 鶏 (“chicken”), indexed under the 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical. Practice 鶏 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 鶏 (にわとり (niwatori) — chicken), 鶏 (とり (tori) — chicken).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (鶏)
Primary Radical (部首): 鳥 — とり (bird)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 鳥
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケイ) when 鶏 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (にわとり, とり) when 鶏 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (19画): At 19 strokes, 鶏 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 19 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 鳥 (とり (bird))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 19 strokes under radical 鳥.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 鶏
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 鶏 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 鶏 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 鶏 ("chicken") 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 鳥 (とり (bird)) radical. At 19 strokes, 鶏 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 19 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 鶏?
For 鶏 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ケイ and the Kunyomi is にわとり, とり. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケイ) when 鶏 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (にわとり, とり) when 鶏 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 鶏 includes 鶏 (にわとり (niwatori) — chicken), 鶏 (とり (tori) — chicken).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 鶏 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 19 strokes of 鶏 (chicken), 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 鶏 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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