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Scratch

On’yomiそう
Kun’yomiか.く
MeaningsScratch, Rake, Comb, Paddle, Behead
11 strokes Radical hand
書き順 · Stroke order

How to write 掻

Stroke order is not decoration — it determines how the character looks handwritten and how dictionaries index it.

11 strokes
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分解 · What it is made of

The parts of 掻

Almost every kanji is built from a small set of reusable parts. Learn the parts once and you stop memorising thousands of unrelated shapes.

radical hand =
Scratch
部首 · Radical

The radical of 掻

Radical 64 of 214
Hand

The radical is the part a paper dictionary files a kanji under, and it usually hints at meaning. 掻 is filed under (hand) — radical number 64 of the 214 in the Kangxi system.

Other kanji built on 手

練習 · Practice

Drill 掻 right now

Three quick games built from this character's real data. Your streak is kept in this browser.

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Scratch そう か.く
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熟語 · In real words

Words that use 掻

Kanji are almost never met alone. These are the most common words built from this character, ordered by how often they actually appear in Japanese.

掻く かく to scratch; to perspire; to shovel
掻き氷 かきごおり shaved ice (usually served with flavored simple syrup); Italian ice; snow cone
掻き回す かきまわす to stir; to churn; to poke (a fire)
掻きまわす かきまわす to stir; to churn; to poke (a fire)
足掻け アガケ to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs), to flounder, to flail abo
足掻こ アガコ to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs), to flounder, to flail abo
足掻か アガカ to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs), to flounder, to flail abo
足掻く アガク to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs), to flounder, to flail abo
足掻い アガイ to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs), to flounder, to flail abo
足掻き アガキ to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs), to flounder, to flail abo

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質問 · Questions

About the kanji 掻

What does the kanji 掻 mean?

掻 means Scratch, Rake, Comb, Paddle, Behead.

How do you read the kanji 掻?

掻 is read on'yomi (Chinese-derived) そう; kun'yomi (native Japanese) か.く.

How many strokes does 掻 have?

掻 is written with 11 strokes. The animated diagram on this page shows the correct order.

What is the radical of 掻?

The radical of 掻 is 手 (hand), radical number 64 of the 214 Kangxi radicals. The radical is the component a dictionary files the character under, and it usually points at the character's meaning.

What words use the kanji 掻?

Common words written with 掻 include 掻く (かく, to scratch; to perspire; to shovel); 掻き氷 (かきごおり, shaved ice (usually served with flavored simple syrup); Italian ice; snow cone); 掻き回す (かきまわす, to stir; to churn; to poke (a fire)).

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