How to Write 恪 (kè) — Meaning “scrupulous”

Imagine a sincere heart (忄) that carefully checks each (各) small rule or step before acting. This mental picture of a heart being mindful of every single thing helps you recall that 恪 means "scrupulous."

Write the heart radical 忄 first: a left dot, then a vertical stroke with a hook, then a right dot. Then write 各: start with the top stroke (夂-like), followed by the mouth 口 below. A common mistake is making the heart radical too wide or forgetting the hook on the vertical stroke.

Although 恪 (kè), 忡 (chōng), and 忤 (wǔ) all share the heart radical 忄, their right parts differ: 恪 has 各, 忡 has 中 (middle), and 忤 has 午 (noon). Meaning-wise, 恪 means scrupulous, 忡 means anxious or worried, and 忤 means disobedient or opposing.

恪 appears in formal or literary expressions such as 恪守 (to strictly abide by) and 恪尽职守 (to fulfill one's duty scrupulously). It is often used in official documents, speeches, or writings praising someone's dedication and careful attention to rules or responsibilities.

Common words containing 恪 include: 恪守 (kè shǒu) — to strictly abide by; 恪尽职守 (kè jìn zhí shǒu) — to fulfill one's duty scrupulously; 恪遵 (kè zūn) — to follow strictly.