How to Write 鹿 (deer) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 鹿 (“deer”), indexed under the 鹿 (しか (deer)) radical. Practice 鹿 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 鹿 (しか (shika) — deer), 鹿 (か (ka) — deer).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (鹿)
Primary Radical (部首): 鹿 — しか (deer)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 鹿
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ロク) when 鹿 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しか, か) when 鹿 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 鹿 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 鹿 (しか (deer)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 鹿 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 鹿 (しか (deer))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 鹿.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 鹿
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 鹿 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 鹿 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 鹿 ("deer") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 鹿 (しか (deer)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 鹿 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 鹿 (しか (deer)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 鹿 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 鹿?
For 鹿 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ロク and the Kunyomi is しか, か. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ロク) when 鹿 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しか, か) when 鹿 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 鹿 includes 鹿 (しか (shika) — deer), 鹿 (か (ka) — deer).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 鹿 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 鹿 (deer), start with the 鹿 (しか (deer)) 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 鹿 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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