梗 is an 11-stroke kanji whose radical is 木 (the "tree" radical). It is built from 木 on the left and 更 (kō) on the right — a left–right structure. Its on'yomi is こう / きょう and its kun'yomi is ふさぐ / おおむね. It appears in words such as 桔梗 (kikyō, bellflower), 脳梗塞 (nō-kōsoku, cerebral infarction), and 梗概 (kōgai, a synopsis).

Meanings of 梗

• To block, to clog — as in 脳梗塞, a passage becoming obstructed
• In outline, on the whole — 梗概, the gist or summary of a story
• The stem of a plant — also used in plant names such as 桔梗 (bellflower)

Origin of 梗

梗 is a phono-semantic compound: 木 supplies the meaning (a woody plant) and 更 (kō) supplies the sound. It first named a hard elm; from that hardness came the sense of "to clog," which later extended to "outline, gist."

How to Write 梗 — Structure (11 strokes)

Give the two sides a width ratio of roughly 3 : 7, keeping the tree radical compact so 更 can sit comfortably.

• Keep the tree radical tall and narrow. End its final right stroke as a short dot rather than a long sweep, leaving room for 更.
• Space the horizontals of 更 evenly. Lay each horizontal parallel, with equal gaps from top to bottom.
• Run one vertical through the center. Let the central vertical of 更 act as a spine, then send the final sweep down to the lower right to close the character.

Expression in Each Script

Kaisho (Regular Script)

Align the centers of the radical and 更 on one horizontal line and stack the horizontals of 更 at even intervals, sending the sweep out for stability.

Gyosho (Semi-Cursive Script)

Connect the brush flow from the radical into 更, giving the run of horizontals a rhythm while keeping the frame intact.

Sosho (Cursive Script)

Abbreviate the horizontals of 更 boldly, resolving the form with the central vertical and the final sweep so the left–right balance still reads.

Summary

梗 is an 11-stroke, 木-radical character meaning "to clog" and "in outline." Keep the tree radical tall and tight, set 更 wide, and run a vertical through its center: hold that left–right balance and even a many-stroked character stays composed.