Radicals: Meaning Elements
To learn about radicals, watch the following presentation.
# | rad | alternate | simplified | pinyin | meaning | strokes | examples |
1 | 一 | yi1 | one | 1 | 丁七丈三上下不且世丘丙丞(并=並,专=專,丝=絲,业=業) | ||
2 | 丨 | gun3 | line | 1 | 丫中串丰(临=臨) | ||
3 | 丶 | zhu3 | dot | 1 | 丸主凡(丽=麗,举=舉) | ||
4 | 丿 | 乀(fu2), | 乁(yi2) | pie1 | slash | 1 | 乃久之乏乖乘(乐=樂,乌=烏,乔=喬) |
5 | 乙 | 乚(yin3), | 乛 | yi4 | second | 1 | 九乞也乳乾亂(习=習,书=書,卫=衛,买=買) |
6 | 亅 | jue2 | hook | 1 | 了予事(争=爭) | ||
7 | 二 | er4 | two | 2 | 于云互五井些亞亟(亚=亞) | ||
8 | 亠 | tou2 | lid | 2 | 亡亢交亥亦亨享京亭亮(产=產) | ||
*9 | 人 | 亻 | ren2 | man | 2 | 仁仄今令以件企休來 | |
10 | 儿 | ren2 | legs | 2 | 允元兄充先光克兒兔(党=黨) | ||
11 | 入 | ru4 | enter | 2 | 內全兩兪 | ||
12 | 八 | 丷 | ba1 | eight | 2 | 公六兮共兵其具典兼冀(兴=興) | |
13 | 冂 | jiong3 | down box | 2 | 内冊册冉再冓冒 | ||
14 | 冖 | mi4 | over | 2 | 冠冤冥冢冪(写=寫,农=農) | ||
*15 | 冫 | bing1 | ice | 2 | 冬冰冶准凌凍凝(况=況) | ||
16 | 几 | ji1 | table | 2 | 凡凰凱凴 | ||
17 | 凵 | qu3 | open box | 2 | 凶凸凹出函(击=擊) | ||
*18 | 刀 | dao1 | knife | 2 | 刁刃分切刑列初利到制前劇 | ||
19 | 力 | li4 | power | 2 | 功加勇動勞勰勸勉(办=辦) | ||
20 | 勹 | bao1 | wrap | 2 | 勺勾勿包匈 | ||
21 | 匕 | bi3 | spoon | 2 | 化北匙 | ||
22 | 匚 | fang1 | right open box | 2 | 匝匜匠匡匣匪匯奩 | ||
23 | 匸 | xi3 | hiding enclosure | 2 | 匹區 | ||
24 | 十 | shi2 | ten | 2 | 千升半午卑卒卓協南博(丧=喪,卖=賣) | ||
25 | 卜 | bu3 | Mysticism | 2 | 卞占卡卣卦卧(卢=盧) | ||
26 | 卩 | jie2 | seal | 2 | 卮卯印危卵卷卸卻却即卿 | ||
27 | 厂 | han4 | cliff | 2 | 厄厚原厥厲(厅=廳,历=歷,压圧=壓,质=質) | ||
28 | 厶 | si1 | private | 2 | 去參(县=縣) | ||
29 | 又 | you4 | again | 2 | 叉及友反叔取叛叢収受叚叡(双=雙,变=變,艰=艱,难=難) | ||
*30 | 口 | kou3 | mouth | 3 | 古句另只叫召可台史右司各吉合同名后向君周味呼和命品員哭售商問喝喜喪喬單(号=號,后=後,吕=呂) | ||
*31 | 囗 | wei2 | enclosure | 3 | 囚四回因困國團圅 | ||
*32 | 土 | tu3 | earth | 3 | 在圭地坊坐垂型執基堂報堯壞(圧=壓) | ||
33 | 士 | shi4 | scholar | 3 | 壬壯壹壺壽(声=聲,売=賣) | ||
34 | 夂 | sui1 | (bottom) go | 3 | 夏夔(処处=處,务=務,备=備) | ||
35 | 夊 | zhi | (top) go | 3 | no modern characters | ||
36 | 夕 | xi4 | evening | 3 | 外多夙夜夠夢 | ||
37 | 大 | da4 | big | 3 | 天夫夭失夾央夷夸夾奇奈奉奔奏套奧(类=類,头=頭) | ||
*38 | 女 | nü3 | woman | 3 | 奶好妻妾始妀如妝妥姜妹委威娘 | ||
*39 | 子 | zi3 | child | 3 | 孑孔孕字存孚孝孟季孤學孰孺 | ||
*40 | 宀 | mian2 | roof | 3 | 宇宙安宋完寫寒 | ||
41 | 寸 | cun4 | inch | 3 | 寺封射專將尉尋對導(寿=壽) | ||
42 | 小 | xiao3 | small | 3 | 少尔尖尚尞(尘=塵,単=單,営=營) | ||
43 | 尢 | 尣 | wang1 | lame | 3 | 尤尨就尬尷 | |
44 | 尸 | shi1 | corpse | 3 | 尺尿尹尾局屬 | ||
45 | 屮 | che4 | sprout | 3 | 屯屰 | ||
*46 | 山 | shan1 | mountain | 3 | 岡崗岳岸峰(岁=歲) | ||
47 | 川 | 巛, | 巜 | gui4, chuan1 | river | 3 | 州巡巢 |
48 | 工 | gong1 | work | 3 | 左巧巨巩巫差 | ||
49 | 己 | ji3 | oneself | 3 | 已巳巴巷巽巵 | ||
50 | 巾 | jin1 | turban | 3 | 市布帆帘席帶常幂帽币幣帅師 | ||
51 | 干 | gan1 | dry | 3 | 平年幸幹并幷 | ||
52 | 幺 | yao1 | short thread | 3 | 幻幼幽幾(乡=鄉) | ||
53 | 广 | yan3 | dotted cliff | 3 | 序底度庭廈廠廢廣(庆=慶,应=應) | ||
54 | 廴 | yin3 | long stride | 3 | 延廷建 | ||
55 | 廾 | gong3 | two hands | 3 | 廿弁弄弊(开=開,弃=棄) | ||
56 | 弋 | yi4 | shoot | 3 | 式弒弌 | ||
57 | 弓 | gong1 | bow | 3 | 引弗弘弟弦弱張彎弼彊 | ||
58 | 彐 | 彑 | ji4 | snout | 3 | 彖彗彘彙彝(当=當,彔录=錄,帰=歸) | |
59 | 彡 | shan1 | bristle | 3 | 彥彩彬彪彭影彰形彧(须=須) | ||
60 | 彳 | chi4 | step | 3 | 彼役往征待很律後得從 | ||
*61 | 心 | 忄 | xin1 | heart | 4 | 忄必忍志忘念忙怕性情恭恥愛 | |
62 | 戈 | ge1 | halberd | 4 | 戊戌戎成戒我或戚戰戲戔 | ||
63 | 戶 | hu4 | door | 4 | 户戸房所扇 | ||
*64 | 手 | 扌 | shou3 | hand | 4 | 扌才打批折承拜拳掌摯 | |
65 | 支 | zhi1 | branch | 4 | 攰攱攳 | ||
66 | 攴 | 攵 | pu1 | rap | 4 | 攵改攻放故政教救整敲 | |
67 | 文 | wen2 | script | 4 | 斌斑斐(斉=齊,斎=齋,斏=艱,対=對) | ||
68 | 斗 | dou3 | dipper | 4 | 料斛斜斝 | ||
69 | 斤 | jin1 | axe | 4 | 斥斧斫斬斯新斷 | ||
70 | 方 | fang1 | square | 4 | 於施旁旅旋族旗 | ||
71 | 无 | wu2 | not | 4 | 既旣 | ||
*72 | 日 | ri4 | sun | 4 | 旦旨早旬旱昌明昏易是時暮(旧=舊) | ||
73 | 曰 | yue1 | say | 4 | 曲更書曹曼曾替最會 | ||
74 | 月 | yue4 | moon | 4 | 有朋服朔朗望朝期朦 | ||
*75 | 木 | mu4 | tree | 4 | 未末本朱李材村束東果枣榮柔(术=術,杀=殺) | ||
76 | 欠 | qian4 | lack | 4 | 次欣欲欺款歎歡 | ||
77 | 止 | zhi3 | stop | 4 | 正此步武歨歪歮歯歰歲歴歷歸 | ||
78 | 歹 | dai3 | death | 4 | 歺死殆殃 | ||
79 | 殳 | shu1 | weapon | 4 | 段殺殿毆 | ||
80 | 毋 | mu2 | do not | 4 | 每毐毒毓 | ||
81 | 比 | bi3 | compare | 4 | 毘毚(毕=畢) | ||
82 | 毛 | mao2 | fur | 4 | 毫毯毦毳 | ||
83 | 氏 | shi4 | clan | 4 | 氐民 | ||
84 | 气 | qi4 | steam | 4 | 氣氛氧 | ||
*85 | 水 | 氵 | shui3 | water | 4 | 氵永求汗汞沙沒泰泉江洋淼 | |
*86 | 火 | 灬 | huo3 | fire | 4 | 灬灰災灾炎炊炒炭烏烈焉焚無熨照焦然焱燕營(灭=滅) | |
87 | 爪 | 爫 | zhao3 | claw | 4 | 爫爬爭爰爲爵(觅=覓) | |
88 | 父 | fu4 | father | 4 | 爸爹爺 | ||
89 | 爻 | yao2 | double x | 4 | 爽爾 | ||
90 | 爿 | qiang2 | half tree trunk | 4 | 丬牆(将=將) | ||
91 | 片 | pian4 | slice | 4 | 版牌牘 | ||
92 | 牙 | ya2 | fang | 4 | 牚 | ||
93 | 牛 | 牜 | niu2 | cow | 4 | 牜特牝牢牟物牽犧牲犀 | |
*94 | 犬 | 犭 | quan3 | dog | 4 | 犭犮狗猿狀狐狸獵獲獻狊 | |
95 | 玄 | xuan2 | profound | 5 | 率玈 | ||
*96 | 玉 | 王 | yu4 | jade | 5 | 王玫瑰班琵琶 | |
97 | 瓜 | gua1 | melon | 5 | 瓢瓣 | ||
98 | 瓦 | wa3 | tile | 5 | 瓷瓶 | ||
99 | 甘 | gan1 | sweet | 5 | 甚甜 | ||
100 | 生 | sheng1 | life | 5 | 產甥 | ||
101 | 用 | yong4 | use | 5 | 甫甬甯甩 | ||
102 | 田 | tian2 | field | 5 | 由甲申男甸畏畢畔畒略畜當番画畫畵疆 | ||
103 | 疋 | pi3 | bolt of cloth | 5 | 疏疑 | ||
*104 | 疒 | chuang2 | sickness | 5 | 病疾癌 | ||
105 | 癶 | bo4 | dotted tent | 5 | 癸登發 | ||
106 | 白 | bai2 | white | 5 | 百的皆皎皓皇皋 | ||
107 | 皮 | pi2 | skin | 5 | 皺皹 | ||
108 | 皿 | min3 | dish | 5 | 盆盈盒盜盡盧 | ||
*109 | 目 | mu4 | eye | 5 | 盲省直眇眠相眉看真眾瞿睿睘督 | ||
110 | 矛 | mao2 | spear | 5 | 矜矞 | ||
111 | 矢 | shi3 | arrow | 5 | 矣知短矩 | ||
*112 | 石 | shi2 | stone | 5 | 砂砍破碧磨 | ||
113 | 示 | 礻 | shi4 | spirit | 5 | 礻社神禮祁祟票祭禁 | |
114 | 禸 | rou3 | track | 5 | 禹禺禽(离=離) | ||
*115 | 禾 | he2 | grain | 5 | 秀私秉秋科秦移 | ||
116 | 穴 | xue4 | cave | 5 | 究空穿突窗窟窮竊 | ||
117 | 立 | li4 | stand | 5 | 站竟章童竭端競竸(竜=龍,竝=並) | ||
*118 | 竹 | zhu2 | bamboo | 6 | 竿笑第等節 | ||
*119 | 米 | mi3 | rice | 6 | 粉粗粟粵粥粲 | ||
*120 | 糸 | 纟 | mi4 | silk | 6 | 纟系紀紅素索絲綢緊縣繭 | |
121 | 缶 | fou3 | jar | 6 | 罐缺 | ||
122 | 网 | 罒 | wang3 | net | 6 | 罒罔罩罰罷 | |
123 | 羊 | yang2 | sheep | 6 | 羌美羔羞群羨義羚 | ||
124 | 羽 | yu3 | feather | 6 | 翅習翠翻 | ||
125 | 老 | lao3 | old | 6 | 考耆者 | ||
126 | 而 | er2 | and | 6 | 耐耍 | ||
127 | 耒 | lei3 | plow | 6 | 耕耙 | ||
*128 | 耳 | er3 | ear | 6 | 耶聃耿聊聯聖聘聚聰聲聽 | ||
129 | 聿 | yu4 | brush | 6 | 肀肆肅肇 | ||
*130 | 肉 | 月 | rou4 | meat | 6 | 月肖肚育背肺胡能腐 | |
131 | 臣 | chen2 | minister | 6 | 臥臧臨 | ||
132 | 自 | zi4 | self | 6 | 臭 | ||
133 | 至 | zhi4 | arrive | 6 | 致臺臻 | ||
134 | 臼 | jiu4 | mortar | 6 | 舂舅與興舉舊 | ||
135 | 舌 | she2 | tongue | 6 | 舍舒舖 | ||
136 | 舛 | chuan3 | oppose | 6 | 舜舝舞 | ||
137 | 舟 | zhou1 | boat | 6 | 航船 | ||
138 | 艮 | gen4 | stopping | 6 | 良艱 | ||
139 | 色 | se4 | color | 6 | 艷 | ||
140 | 艸 | 艹 | cao3 | grass | 6 | 艹芙蓉芔芻草花芻茶葉華萬(劳=勞,营=營,etc.节=節) | |
141 | 虍 | hu1 | tiger | 6 | 虎虐處虛號虢虥 | ||
*142 | 虫 | chong2 | insect | 6 | 蚉蚊虱螞蟻蛋蚤蜀蟲蠶(虽=雖) | ||
143 | 血 | xue3 | blood | 6 | 衅衇眾衊蔑 | ||
144 | 行 | xing2 | walk enclosure | 6 | 衍術衛衡 | ||
145 | 衣 | 衤 | yi1 | clothes | 6 | 衤袖袋褲襪表衰袁裁裂表 | |
146 | 襾 | 覀 | ya4 | west | 6 | 西要覃覇覆 | |
147 | 見 | 见 | jian4 | see | 7 | 见規親覺觀 | |
148 | 角 | jue2 | horn | 7 | 觚解觕觥觸 | ||
*149 | 言 | 讠 | yan2 | speech | 7 | 讠計訓訇記詳認識誓譬變 | |
150 | 谷 | gu3 | valley | 7 | 谿豀豁 | ||
151 | 豆 | dou4 | bean | 7 | 豈豐豎豐豔 | ||
152 | 豖 | shi3 | pig | 7 | 豖豚象豪豫豬豳 | ||
153 | 豸 | zhi4 | badger | 7 | 豹貌貓 | ||
*154 | 貝 | 贝 | bei4 | shell | 7 | 贝負貞財賊賜贛貧貨貫貿買賣貭貴 | |
155 | 赤 | chi4 | red | 7 | 赫赭赧 | ||
*156 | 走 | zou3 | run | 7 | 赴起超越 | ||
157 | 足 | zu2 | foot | 7 | 跑跨跟跪路 | ||
158 | 身 | shen1 | body | 7 | 躬躲軀 | ||
*159 | 車 | 车 | che1 | cart | 7 | 车軌軟較軍載輩轡 | |
160 | 辛 | xin1 | bitter | 7 | 辜辟辣辦辨辯辭 | ||
161 | 辰 | chen2 | morning | 7 | 辱農 | ||
*162 | 辵 | 辶 | chuo4 | walk | 7 | 辶迎進迷逆通遷 | |
163 | 邑 | 阝(right) | yi4 | city | 7 | 阝那邦郎郡部郭都鄉 | |
164 | 酉 | you3 | wine | 7 | 配酥醉酸酒醫 | ||
165 | 釆 | bian4 | distinguish | 7 | 采釉釋 | ||
166 | 里 | li3 | village | 7 | 重野量釐 | ||
*167 | 金 | 钅 | jin1 | gold | 8 | 钅釜銀銅釘銳鋒鑒 | |
168 | 長 | 长 | chang2 | long | 8 | 长镸镽 | |
169 | 門 | 门 | men2 | gate | 8 | 门開間閑關(闘=鬪) | |
170 | 阜 | 阝(left) | fu4 | mound | 8 | 阝阪防阻附陰陽 | |
171 | 隶 | dai4 | slave | 8 | 隸 | ||
172 | 隹 | zhui1 | short-tailed bird | 8 | 雀雅雇雁雖雍雙雜難離 | ||
*173 | 雨 | yu3 | rain | 8 | 雪雲霧電雷靈 | ||
174 | 青 | qing1 | blue | 8 | 青靖靚靜 | ||
175 | 非 | fei1 | wrong | 8 | 靠靡 | ||
176 | 面 | mian4 | face | 9 | 靦靨 | ||
177 | 革 | ge2 | leather | 9 | 鞅鞍鞭鞏 | ||
178 | 韋 | 韦 | wei2 | tanned leather | 9 | 韋韓韜 | |
179 | 韭 | jiu3 | leek | 9 | 韮韱韲 | ||
180 | 音 | yin1 | sound | 9 | 韶韻響 | ||
181 | 頁 | 页 | ye4 | leaf | 9 | 页頃項順須領頭顏顯 | |
182 | 風 | 风 | feng1 | wind | 9 | 风颱飄 | |
183 | 飛 | 飞 | fei1 | fly | 9 | 飜飝 | |
*184 | 食 | 飠 | 饣 | shi2 | eat | 9 | 饣飯飲餓餘餐養饕 |
185 | 首 | shou3 | head | 9 | 馗馘 | ||
186 | 香 | xiang1 | fragrant | 9 | 馨馚 | ||
*187 | 馬 | 马 | ma3 | horse | 10 | 马馮馴馳駐驚 | |
188 | 骨 | gu3 | bone | 10 | 骼髒體 | ||
189 | 高 | gao1 | tall | 10 | 髚 | ||
190 | 髟 | biao1 | hair | 10 | 髯鬍鬢 | ||
191 | 鬥 | dou4 | fight | 10 | 鬦鬧鬪鬬 | ||
192 | 鬯 | chang4 | sacrificial wine | 10 | 鬰 | ||
193 | 鬲 | li4 | cauldron | 10 | 鬻鬴 | ||
194 | 鬼 | gui3 | ghost | 10 | 魏魂魔魄 | ||
*195 | 魚 | 鱼 | yu2 | fish | 11 | 鱼鯉鮑魦鯨魯鯈鯊 | |
196 | 鳥 | 鸟 | niao3 | bird | 11 | 鸟鳧雞鳴鴻鴛鴦鶯鴈鴃鳳 | |
197 | 鹵 | lu3 | salt | 11 | 鹹鹼鹽 | ||
198 | 鹿 | lu4 | deer | 11 | 塵麃麋麉麓麟 | ||
199 | 麥 | 麦 | mai4 | wheat | 11 | 麦麵 | |
200 | 麻 | ma2 | hemp | 11 | 麼摩魔 | ||
201 | 黃 | huang2 | yellow | 12 | 黄黊黌 | ||
202 | 黍 | shu3 | millet | 12 | 黏黎 | ||
203 | 黑 | hei1 | black | 12 | 黒點黛黱黨 | ||
204 | 黹 | zhi3 | embroidery | 12 | 黼黻 | ||
205 | 黽 | 黾 | min3 | frog | 13 | 黾鼈黿鼆 | |
206 | 鼎 | ding3 | tripod | 13 | 鼏鼒 | ||
207 | 鼓 | gu3 | drum | 13 | 鼗鼘 | ||
208 | 鼠 | 鼡 | shu3 | rat | 13 | 鼬 | |
209 | 鼻 | bi2 | nose | 14 | 齁 | ||
210 | 齊 | 齐 | qi3 | even | 14 | 齐齋齑 | |
211 | 齒 | 齿 | chi3 | tooth | 15 | 齿齢 | |
212 | 龍 | 龙 | long2 | dragon | 16 | 龙龕龔 | |
213 | 龜 | 龟 | gui1 | turtle | 16 | 鼋龞 | |
214 | 龠 | yue4 | flute | 17 | 龢 |
Scroll through the the following document, each page of which contains characters of only one radical. Pay close attention to the radicals on each page. Each character on a page contains that radical.
Below is a Chinese Table of the elements. Look closely at the characters. There are only four radicals amongst all of the elements. Can you guess what they are? (The answer is at the bottom of the page.) The other part of the characters are all phonetic elements, the sound parts (which you will learn about next).
from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_elements_in_East_Asian_languages
Answer
钅 Metal
水 Water
石 Stone
气 Gas/Air
Recommended Reading
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/ealac/sobelman/radicals/
http://www.archchinese.com/arch_chinese_radicals.html
http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Lang%20work/Radicals/Strokes&Radicals.htm
Print out the attached poster from mandarinposter.com.
Below is a word cloud with the most common radicals (just for fun).