Kanji: 愁 (Grief/Sorrow)
The kanji 愁 means "grief," "sorrow," "melancholy," or "anxiety." It represents a deep, lingering sadness or heartfelt concern about something.
Key Reading:
On-yomi (Sino-Japanese reading): シュウ (shū)
Kun-yomi (Japanese reading): うれ（い）(urei)
Common Words & Usage:
憂愁 (yūshū) - Noun. Melancholy, gloom, sorrow.
愁い (urei) - Noun. Grief, sorrow, anxiety.
哀愁 (aishū) - Noun. Pathos, sad tenderness.
愁傷 (shūshō) - Noun. Grief, condolence (as in ご愁傷さま - "my condolences").
Example Sentence:
Japanese: 彼のピアノの音色には深い哀愁が漂っていた。
Romaji: Kare no piano no neiro ni wa fukai aishū ga tadayotte ita.
English: A deep sad tenderness lingered in the tone of his piano.
Learning the correct stroke order for kanji like 愁 is essential for balanced, legible Japanese handwriting and is a fundamental part of mastering kanji writing.