All 214 Kangxi radicals ordered by frequency of occurrence (most common first). Red rows change form when used as a component.
| # | Base | Component | Pinyin | English | Position | HSK | Examples | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 水 | → | 氵 | shuǐ | Water | Left |
HSK 1 | 海 hǎi · sea 洗 xǐ · wash 泳 yǒng · swim | 3 dots; the most prolific radical |
| 2 | 木 | = | 木 | mù | Tree / Wood | Varies |
HSK 1 | 树 shù · tree 桌 zhuō · table 森 sēn · forest | One of the most common radicals |
| 3 | 口 | = | 口 | kǒu | Mouth | Varies |
HSK 1 | 吃 chī · eat 喝 hē · drink 唱 chàng · sing | Appears in all positions; most prolific radical |
| 4 | 艸 | → | 艹 | cǎo | Grass / Plants | Top |
HSK 1 | 花 huā · flower 茶 chá · tea 菜 cài · vegetable | 艸 is rare standalone; 艹 is what you see |
| 5 | 人 | → | 亻 | rén | Person | Left |
HSK 1 | 你 nǐ · you 他 tā · he 们 men · plural | Becomes 亻 on the left; extremely common |
| 6 | 手 | → | 扌 | shǒu | Hand | Left |
HSK 1 | 打 dǎ · hit 找 zhǎo · seek 推 tuī · push | 3-stroke form of 4-stroke character |
| 7 | 心 | → | 忄 | xīn | Heart / Mind | Left |
HSK 1 | 快 kuài · fast 情 qíng · feeling 想 xiǎng · think | Also appears as ⺗ at bottom (想 忘) |
| 8 | 糸 | → | 纟 | sī | Silk / Thread | Left |
HSK 1 | 红 hóng · red 绿 lǜ · green 给 gěi · give | Colours and fabrics; simplified to 纟 |
| 9 | 言 | → | 讠 | yán | Speech / Words | Left |
HSK 1 | 说 shuō · speak 请 qǐng · please 谢 xiè · thanks | Simplified from 7 strokes to 2 |
| 10 | 土 | = | 土 | tǔ | Earth / Soil | Left |
HSK 1 | 地 dì · ground 城 chéng · city 场 chǎng · place | Earth and places |
| 11 | 火 | → | 灬 | huǒ | Fire | Bottom |
HSK 1 | 热 rè · hot 然 rán · so 烧 shāo · burn | 4 bottom dots; stays as 火 on left |
| 12 | 金 | → | 钅 | jīn | Metal / Gold | Left |
HSK 1 | 钱 qián · money 铁 tiě · iron 银 yín · silver | Simplified from 8 strokes to 5 |
| 13 | 女 | = | 女 | nǚ | Woman | Left |
HSK 1 | 妈 mā · mom 姐 jiě · sister 好 hǎo · good | Slightly compressed on left |
| 14 | 虫 | = | 虫 | chóng | Insect / Creature | Left |
HSK 5 | 蛇 shé · snake 蜂 fēng · bee 蚂 mǎ · ant | Also used for reptiles and worms |
| 15 | 竹 | → | ⺮ | zhú | Bamboo | Top |
HSK 2 | 笑 xiào · laugh 筷 kuài · chopsticks 算 suàn · calculate | Doubled and flattened at top |
| 16 | 日 | = | 日 | rì | Sun / Day | Varies |
HSK 1 | 明 míng · bright 时 shí · time 晚 wǎn · evening | Time and light vocabulary |
| 17 | 禾 | = | 禾 | hé | Grain / Crop | Left |
HSK 3 | 科 kē · science 秋 qiū · autumn 种 zhǒng · type | Agriculture and harvest |
| 18 | 山 | = | 山 | shān | Mountain | Varies |
HSK 3 | 岛 dǎo · island 峰 fēng · peak 岁 suì · age | Landscape and geography |
| 19 | 刀 | → | 刂 | dāo | Knife | Right |
HSK 1 | 分 fēn · divide 别 bié · other 到 dào · arrive | Becomes 刂 on the right side |
| 20 | 月 | = | 月 | yuè | Moon / Month | Varies |
HSK 1 | 朋 péng · friend 明 míng · bright 服 fú · clothing | Distinguish from 肉(⺼) flesh |
| 21 | 肉 | → | ⺼ | ròu | Flesh / Body | Left |
HSK 1 | 脸 liǎn · face 腿 tuǐ · leg 脚 jiǎo · foot | Identical to 月(moon) as component! |
| 22 | 貝 | → | 贝 | bèi | Shell / Money | Varies |
HSK 1 | 买 mǎi · buy 贵 guì · expensive 财 cái · wealth | Cowrie shells were currency; simplified from 貝 |
| 23 | 目 | = | 目 | mù | Eye | Left |
HSK 1 | 看 kàn · look 眼 yǎn · eye 睡 shuì · sleep | Vision and sight words |
| 24 | 石 | = | 石 | shí | Stone / Rock | Left |
HSK 4 | 破 pò · break 碎 suì · shatter 确 què · certain | Minerals and hardness |
| 25 | 見 | → | 见 | jiàn | See / Perceive | Right |
HSK 1 | 现 xiàn · appear 觉 jué · sense 视 shì · look at | Simplified from 見; perception |
| 26 | 衣 | → | 衤 | yī | Clothing | Left |
HSK 1 | 裤 kù · trousers 袜 wà · socks 初 chū · first | Compare 礻(spirit) — one stroke different! |
| 27 | 力 | = | 力 | lì | Strength | Right |
HSK 2 | 功 gōng · merit 动 dòng · move 劳 láo · labour | Effort; power |
| 28 | 示 | → | 礻 | shì | Spirit / Altar | Left |
HSK 1 | 福 fú · fortune 礼 lǐ · gift 神 shén · spirit | Religion and ceremony; compare 衤(clothing) |
| 29 | 辵 | → | 辶 | chuò | Walk / Movement | Surrounds |
HSK 1 | 过 guò · pass 道 dào · road 边 biān · side | Wraps bottom-left; motion and direction |
| 30 | 食 | → | 饣 | shí | Food / Eat | Left |
HSK 1 | 饭 fàn · rice 饿 è · hungry 饮 yǐn · drink | Simplified from 9 strokes to 3 |
| 31 | 馬 | → | 马 | mǎ | Horse | Left |
HSK 3 | 骑 qí · ride 驾 jià · drive 骗 piàn · deceive | Simplified from 馬 |
| 32 | 宀 | = | 宀 | mián | Roof | Top |
HSK 1 | 家 jiā · home 安 ān · peaceful 室 shì · room | House roof; always at top |
| 33 | 广 | = | 广 | guǎng | Shelter / Wide | Top-Left |
HSK 1 | 店 diàn · shop 座 zuò · seat 度 dù · degree | Cliff shelter; buildings |
| 34 | 疒 | = | 疒 | nè | Sickness | Top-Left |
HSK 2 | 病 bìng · sick 痛 tòng · pain 疼 téng · hurt | All illness words use this enclosure |
| 35 | 牛 | → | 牜 | niú | Ox / Cattle | Left |
HSK 2 | 物 wù · thing 特 tè · special 牧 mù · shepherd | Slightly compressed on left |
| 36 | 犬 | → | 犭 | quǎn | Dog / Animal | Left |
HSK 2 | 猫 māo · cat 猪 zhū · pig 独 dú · alone | Broadly used for mammals |
| 37 | 玉 | → | 王 | yù | Jade | Left |
HSK 1 | 球 qiú · ball 现 xiàn · appear 理 lǐ · reason | Loses its dot; looks like 王(king)! |
| 38 | 走 | = | 走 | zǒu | Walk | Bottom |
HSK 1 | 起 qǐ · rise 赶 gǎn · hurry 越 yuè · surpass | Forms the base of motion compounds |
| 39 | 米 | = | 米 | mǐ | Rice / Grain | Left |
HSK 1 | 粒 lì · granule 粮 liáng · grain 糊 hú · paste | Food staples and textures |
| 40 | 巾 | = | 巾 | jīn | Cloth / Towel | Left |
HSK 1 | 师 shī · teacher 帽 mào · hat 带 dài · belt | Textiles and fabric |
| 41 | 阜 | → | 阝 | fù | Mound / Hill | Left |
HSK 1 | 院 yuàn · courtyard 随 suí · follow 阶 jiē · steps | 阝 on the LEFT = 阜; position is the only clue |
| 42 | 邑 | → | 阝 | yì | City / Town | Right |
HSK 1 | 都 dōu · all 部 bù · section 郊 jiāo · suburb | 阝 on the RIGHT = 邑; position is the only clue |
| 43 | 魚 | → | 鱼 | yú | Fish | Left |
HSK 2 | 鲜 xiān · fresh 鲸 jīng · whale 鲤 lǐ · carp | Simplified from 魚; all fish species |
| 44 | 足 | → | ⻊ | zú | Foot / Leg | Left |
HSK 2 | 跑 pǎo · run 跳 tiào · jump 路 lù · road | Movement verbs nearly always use this |
| 45 | 鳥 | → | 鸟 | niǎo | Bird | Varies |
HSK 3 | 鸡 jī · chicken 鸭 yā · duck 鹅 é · goose | Simplified from 鳥; all bird species |
| 46 | 雨 | = | 雨 | yǔ | Rain | Top |
HSK 1 | 雨 yǔ · rain 雪 xuě · snow 雷 léi · thunder | Weather words; always at top |
| 47 | 大 | = | 大 | dà | Big | Varies |
HSK 1 | 大 dà · big 天 tiān · sky 太 tài · very | Big; great |
| 48 | 弓 | = | 弓 | gōng | Bow / Arch | Left |
HSK 3 | 张 zhāng · spread 强 qiáng · strong 弹 dàn · bullet | Archer bow; elasticity |
| 49 | 又 | = | 又 | yòu | Again / Right hand | Right |
HSK 1 | 友 yǒu · friend 双 shuāng · pair 取 qǔ · take | Ancient pictograph of right hand |
| 50 | 子 | = | 子 | zǐ | Child / Son | Left |
HSK 1 | 孩 hái · child 孙 sūn · grandchild 学 xué · study | Family and youth |
| 51 | 門 | → | 门 | mén | Gate / Door | Surrounds |
HSK 2 | 问 wèn · ask 间 jiān · between 闭 bì · close | Simplified from 門; encloses from left+top |
| 52 | 彳 | = | 彳 | chì | Half-step | Left |
HSK 1 | 很 hěn · very 街 jiē · street 往 wǎng · toward | Left half of 行; walking; always left |
| 53 | 彡 | = | 彡 | shān | Hair / Streaks | Right |
HSK 1 | 影 yǐng · shadow 形 xíng · shape 彩 cǎi · colour | Three strokes = hair/decoration; always right |
| 54 | 欠 | = | 欠 | qiàn | Yawn / Owe | Right |
HSK 2 | 欢 huān · happy 歌 gē · song 次 cì · time | Person bending back; breath words |
| 55 | 田 | = | 田 | tián | Field / Paddy | Varies |
HSK 2 | 界 jiè · boundary 留 liú · stay 男 nán · male | 男 = field + strength = male |
| 56 | 頁 | → | 页 | yè | Page / Head | Right |
HSK 2 | 顶 dǐng · top 颜 yán · face 题 tí · topic | Head and face vocabulary; simplified from 頁 |
| 57 | 冫 | = | 冫 | bīng | Ice | Left |
HSK 1 | 冷 lěng · cold 冻 dòng · freeze 凉 liáng · cool | Two dots = ice; cold vocabulary |
| 58 | 白 | = | 白 | bái | White | Varies |
HSK 1 | 的 de · possessive 泉 quán · spring 伯 bó · uncle | 的 is the single most-used character in Chinese! |
| 59 | 方 | = | 方 | fāng | Square / Direction | Varies |
HSK 2 | 旁 páng · side 放 fàng · release 方 fāng · direction | Square; cardinal direction |
| 60 | 酉 | = | 酉 | yǒu | Wine vessel | Right |
HSK 3 | 酒 jiǔ · wine 醉 zuì · drunk 酸 suān · sour | Fermentation; flavour words |
| 61 | 父 | = | 父 | fù | Father | Top |
HSK 1 | 爸 bà · dad 斧 fǔ · axe 爷 yé · grandpa | Always appears at top of compounds |
| 62 | 几 | = | 几 | jī | Small table | Varies |
HSK 1 | 机 jī · machine 肌 jī · muscle 饥 jī · hungry | Also means "how many?" (jǐ) |
| 63 | 耳 | = | 耳 | ěr | Ear | Left |
HSK 3 | 聪 cōng · clever 联 lián · unite 职 zhí · duty | Hearing and listening |
| 64 | 革 | = | 革 | gé | Leather | Left |
HSK 3 | 鞋 xié · shoe 靴 xuē · boot 鞭 biān · whip | Processed hide; footwear |
| 65 | 長 | → | 长 | cháng | Long / Grow | Varies |
HSK 2 | 张 zhāng · spread 涨 zhǎng · rise 长 cháng · long | Simplified from 長 |
| 66 | 骨 | = | 骨 | gǔ | Bone | Left |
HSK 5 | 骼 gé · skeleton 骸 hái · remains 髋 kuān · hip | Anatomy vocabulary |
| 67 | 角 | = | 角 | jiǎo | Horn / Angle | Left |
HSK 3 | 解 jiě · solve 触 chù · touch 确 què · certain | Sharp angles and corners |
| 68 | 鬼 | = | 鬼 | guǐ | Ghost / Demon | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 魂 hún · soul 魄 pò · spirit 魅 mèi · charm | Supernatural vocabulary |
| 69 | 老 | → | 耂 | lǎo | Old / Aged | Varies |
HSK 1 | 老 lǎo · old 者 zhě · person who 考 kǎo · exam | Top form: 耂; age and experience |
| 70 | 户 | = | 户 | hù | Door / Household | Top-Left |
HSK 2 | 房 fáng · room 所 suǒ · place 扇 shān · fan | Single-leaf door; household |
| 71 | 斤 | = | 斤 | jīn | Axe / Catty (weight) | Right |
HSK 2 | 近 jìn · near 新 xīn · new 断 duàn · break | Axe; unit of weight ~500g |
| 72 | 攴 | → | 攵 | pū | Tap / Strike | Right |
HSK 2 | 放 fàng · release 教 jiāo · teach 收 shōu · collect | 攴 simplifies to 攵 on the right |
| 73 | 皮 | = | 皮 | pí | Skin / Hide | Varies |
HSK 3 | 坡 pō · slope 疲 pí · tired 披 pī · drape | Also acts as a phonetic component |
| 74 | 羽 | = | 羽 | yǔ | Feather / Wing | Varies |
HSK 4 | 翅 chì · wing 翻 fān · turn 习 xí · practice | Flight and learning |
| 75 | 色 | = | 色 | sè | Color / Appearance | Varies |
HSK 2 | 艳 yàn · gorgeous 绝 jué · extreme 色 sè · color | Colour and visual appearance |
| 76 | 皿 | = | 皿 | mǐn | Dish / Vessel | Bottom |
HSK 4 | 盒 hé · box 盘 pán · plate 益 yì · benefit | Always at bottom of compounds |
| 77 | 舌 | = | 舌 | shé | Tongue | Varies |
HSK 5 | 话 huà · speech 活 huó · alive 甜 tián · sweet | 话=讠+舌, 活=氵+舌 |
| 78 | 音 | = | 音 | yīn | Sound / Music | Varies |
HSK 3 | 音 yīn · sound 暗 àn · dark 意 yì · meaning | Music and acoustics |
| 79 | 毛 | = | 毛 | máo | Hair / Fur | Varies |
HSK 4 | 毯 tǎn · blanket 毫 háo · tiny 笔 bǐ · pen | 笔(pen) = bamboo + fur tip |
| 80 | 行 | = | 行 | xíng | Walk / Travel | Surrounds |
HSK 3 | 街 jiē · street 衔 xián · hold 衍 yǎn · overflow | Two halves: 彳(left) + 亍(right) |
| 81 | 血 | = | 血 | xuè | Blood | Varies |
HSK 5 | 血 xuè · blood 衅 xìn · quarrel 衊 miè · smear | Powerful elemental symbol |
| 82 | 舟 | = | 舟 | zhōu | Boat | Left |
HSK 4 | 船 chuán · boat 舰 jiàn · warship 航 háng · navigate | Watercraft vocabulary |
| 83 | 而 | = | 而 | ér | Moreover / Beard | Varies |
HSK 4 | 而 ér · moreover 耐 nài · endure 需 xū · need | Connective word; beard shape |
| 84 | 至 | = | 至 | zhì | Arrive / Utmost | Varies |
HSK 4 | 到 dào · arrive 致 zhì · cause 室 shì · room | Reaching a destination |
| 85 | 西 | = | 西 | xī | West / Cover | Top |
HSK 1 | 西 xī · west 栗 lì · chestnut 覆 fù · cover | West direction; also a covering shape |
| 86 | 里 | = | 里 | lǐ | Village / Inside | Varies |
HSK 1 | 重 zhòng · heavy 野 yě · wild 量 liàng · quantity | Distance, interior; very common |
| 87 | 立 | = | 立 | lì | Stand | Top |
HSK 2 | 站 zhàn · stand 端 duān · upright 产 chǎn · produce | Upright posture; frequent at top |
| 88 | 己 | = | 己 | jǐ | Self | Right |
HSK 3 | 起 qǐ · rise 纪 jì · era 忌 jì · avoid | Distinguish: 己(self) 已(already) 巳(snake) |
| 89 | 止 | = | 止 | zhǐ | Stop / Foot | Varies |
HSK 2 | 步 bù · step 正 zhèng · correct 此 cǐ · this | Movement and correctness |
| 90 | 工 | = | 工 | gōng | Work | Varies |
HSK 1 | 空 kōng · empty 功 gōng · merit 项 xiàng · item | Labour and craft |
| 91 | 十 | = | 十 | shí | Ten / Cross | Varies |
HSK 1 | 十 shí · ten 什 shén · what 千 qiān · thousand | Cross shape; ten |
| 92 | 尸 | = | 尸 | shī | Body / Corpse | Top-Left |
HSK 3 | 屋 wū · room 层 céng · floor 居 jū · reside | Body enclosure; top-left |
| 93 | 儿 | = | 儿 | ér | Son / Legs | Bottom |
HSK 1 | 先 xiān · first 光 guāng · light 儿 ér · son | Leg-like strokes at bottom |
| 94 | 二 | = | 二 | èr | Two | Varies |
HSK 1 | 二 èr · two 五 wǔ · five 些 xiē · some | Two horizontal strokes |
| 95 | 一 | = | 一 | yī | One | Varies |
HSK 1 | 不 bù · not 三 sān · three 再 zài · again | Horizontal stroke; the most basic element |
| 96 | 亠 | = | 亠 | tóu | Lid / Top | Top |
HSK 2 | 交 jiāo · 交 京 jīng · capital 亭 tíng · pavilion | Top cap component; roof-like |
| 97 | 八 | = | 八 | bā | Eight / Divide | Top |
HSK 1 | 分 fēn · divide 公 gōng · public 关 guān · close | Split shape; eight |
| 98 | 囗 | = | 囗 | wéi | Enclosure | Surrounds |
HSK 1 | 国 guó · country 园 yuán · garden 圆 yuán · round | Full box surround; larger than 口 mouth |
| 99 | 冂 | = | 冂 | jiōng | Open box | Top |
HSK 1 | 再 zài · again 同 tóng · same 冈 gāng · ridge | Open-bottomed box |
| 100 | 冖 | = | 冖 | mì | Cover / Lid | Top |
HSK 1 | 写 xiě · write 军 jūn · army 冠 guān · crown | Cover shape; always at top |
| 101 | 夕 | = | 夕 | xī | Evening | Varies |
HSK 2 | 多 duō · many 夜 yè · night 外 wài · outside | Sunset/evening crescent |
| 102 | 士 | = | 士 | shì | Scholar / Soldier | Top |
HSK 4 | 声 shēng · sound 志 zhì · will 壮 zhuàng · strong | Educated person; male adult |
| 103 | 干 | = | 干 | gān | Dry / Shield | Varies |
HSK 2 | 年 nián · year 干 gān · dry 肝 gān · liver | Shield; 10th heavenly stem |
| 104 | 戈 | = | 戈 | gē | Halberd / Lance | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 我 wǒ · I/me 战 zhàn · war 成 chéng · become | Spear with blade; weapon radical |
| 105 | 文 | = | 文 | wén | Culture / Pattern | Varies |
HSK 3 | 文 wén · culture 斑 bān · spot 纹 wén · pattern | Written culture; markings |
| 106 | 斗 | = | 斗 | dǒu | Dipper / Fight | Varies |
HSK 3 | 料 liào · material 斜 xié · slanted 斗 dǒu · fight | Ladle shape; 10-litre measure |
| 107 | 生 | = | 生 | shēng | Life / Birth | Varies |
HSK 1 | 星 xīng · star 姓 xìng · surname 性 xìng · nature | Vital; productive component |
| 108 | 辛 | = | 辛 | xīn | Bitter / Hardship | Top |
HSK 4 | 辣 là · spicy 辞 cí · resign 辩 biàn · argue | Bitterness; debate vocabulary |
| 109 | 隹 | = | 隹 | zhuī | Short-tailed bird | Varies |
HSK 3 | 难 nán · difficult 进 jìn · enter 雄 xióng · male | Bird family compounds |
| 110 | 面 | = | 面 | miàn | Face / Noodles | Varies |
HSK 1 | 面 miàn · face 腼 miǎn · shy | Face and surface; also wheat noodles |
| 111 | 身 | = | 身 | shēn | Body | Varies |
HSK 2 | 身 shēn · body 躬 gōng · bow 躲 duǒ · hide | Physical body and posture |
| 112 | 黑 | = | 黑 | hēi | Black | Varies |
HSK 2 | 黑 hēi · black 墨 mò · ink 默 mò · silent | Darkness; ink vocabulary |
| 113 | 黃 | → | 黄 | huáng | Yellow | Varies |
HSK 3 | 黄 huáng · yellow 横 héng · horizontal 磺 huáng · sulphur | Yellow; simplified from 黃 |
| 114 | 入 | = | 入 | rù | Enter | Varies |
HSK 4 | 入 rù · enter 内 nèi · inside 全 quán · complete | Go in; rare as active component |
| 115 | 小 | = | 小 | xiǎo | Small | Varies |
HSK 1 | 小 xiǎo · small 少 shǎo · few 尖 jiān · sharp | Small; few |
| 116 | 幺 | = | 幺 | yāo | Tiny / Thread | Left |
HSK 5 | 幼 yòu · young 幻 huàn · illusion 幽 yōu · dim | Smallness; delicacy |
| 117 | 廴 | = | 廴 | yǐn | Long stride | Surrounds |
HSK 6+ | 建 jiàn · build 延 yán · extend 廷 tíng · court | Long walk; wraps around |
| 118 | 廾 | = | 廾 | gǒng | Two hands raised | Bottom |
HSK 6+ | 开 kāi · open 弄 nòng · play 算 suàn · calculate | Offering with two hands |
| 119 | 匚 | = | 匚 | fāng | Box open right | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 医 yī · medicine 匹 pǐ · bolt of cloth 匡 kuāng · correct | Open-right box enclosure |
| 120 | 卜 | = | 卜 | bǔ | Divination | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 卜 bǔ · divine 占 zhàn · occupy 卡 kǎ · stuck/card | Oracle bone divination rod |
| 121 | 无 | = | 无 | wú | Without / Nothing | Varies |
HSK 3 | 无 wú · without 既 jì · already 旡 jì · choke | Negation; not have |
| 122 | 曰 | = | 曰 | yuē | Say / Speak | Varies |
HSK 2 | 最 zuì · most 曾 céng · once 曹 cáo · class | Speak; similar shape to 日(sun) |
| 123 | 歹 | = | 歹 | dǎi | Bad / Death | Left |
HSK 6+ | 死 sǐ · die 列 liè · row 残 cán · 残 | Decay; death-related words |
| 124 | 毋 | = | 毋 | wú | Do not | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 毋 wú · do not 每 měi · every 母 mǔ · mother | Prohibition; related to 母(mother) |
| 125 | 比 | = | 比 | bǐ | Compare | Left |
HSK 2 | 批 pī · criticise 毗 pí · adjoin 比 bǐ · compare | Side-by-side comparison |
| 126 | 氏 | = | 氏 | shì | Clan / Surname | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 氏 shì · clan 纸 zhǐ · paper 底 dǐ · bottom | Family clan; surname |
| 127 | 气 | = | 气 | qì | Air / Steam | Surrounds |
HSK 1 | 氧 yǎng · oxygen 氢 qīng · hydrogen 汽 qì · steam | Gas and chemistry terms |
| 128 | 爪 | → | 爫 | zhǎo | Claw / Talon | Top |
HSK 3 | 爬 pá · crawl 采 cǎi · pick 受 shòu · receive | Top form loses one stroke |
| 129 | 片 | = | 片 | piàn | Slice / Thin | Left |
HSK 3 | 版 bǎn · edition 牌 pái · sign 牍 dú · documents | Flat objects and publications |
| 130 | 牙 | = | 牙 | yá | Tooth / Tusk | Right |
HSK 3 | 芽 yá · sprout 邪 xié · evil 雅 yǎ · elegant | Mostly a phonetic component |
| 131 | 玄 | = | 玄 | xuán | Dark / Mysterious | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 玄 xuán · dark 率 lǜ · rate 畜 xù · livestock | Mysterious; rare as radical |
| 132 | 瓜 | = | 瓜 | guā | Melon / Gourd | Varies |
HSK 3 | 瓜 guā · melon 瓢 piáo · ladle 孤 gū · lonely | Melon shape; standalone mostly |
| 133 | 瓦 | = | 瓦 | wǎ | Tile / Pottery | Right |
HSK 6+ | 瓦 wǎ · tile 缸 gāng · vat 瓶 píng · bottle | Ceramic and pottery words |
| 134 | 甘 | = | 甘 | gān | Sweet / Willing | Varies |
HSK 3 | 甜 tián · sweet 某 mǒu · certain 甚 shèn · very | Sweetness and willingness |
| 135 | 用 | = | 用 | yòng | Use | Varies |
HSK 3 | 用 yòng · use 甬 yǒng · tube 勇 yǒng · brave | Use; courage words |
| 136 | 疋 | = | 疋 | pǐ | Cloth / Bolt | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 疋 pǐ · bolt 蛋 dàn · egg 疑 yí · doubt | Unit of cloth; rare radical |
| 137 | 癶 | = | 癶 | bō | Back-to-back feet | Top |
HSK 6+ | 登 dēng · climb 发 fā · send 癸 guǐ · 10th stem | Two feet facing outward; rare |
| 138 | 矛 | = | 矛 | máo | Spear | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 矛 máo · spear 柔 róu · soft 矜 jīn · restrained | Long spear with blade; rare component |
| 139 | 矢 | = | 矢 | shǐ | Arrow | Left |
HSK 2 | 知 zhī · know 短 duǎn · short 矮 ǎi · low height | Aim and knowledge words |
| 140 | 禸 | = | 禸 | róu | Footprint / Track | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 禽 qín · bird 离 lí · leave 禺 yú · region | Animal track; very rare |
| 141 | 穴 | = | 穴 | xué | Cave / Hole | Top |
HSK 3 | 空 kōng · empty 突 tū · sudden 窗 chuāng · window | Holes and openings; top enclosure |
| 142 | 缶 | = | 缶 | fǒu | Pottery Jar | Varies |
HSK 4 | 缺 quē · lack 罐 guàn · can 缸 gāng · vat | Ceramic vessel; sound-maker |
| 143 | 网 | → | 罒 | wǎng | Net | Top |
HSK 3 | 罗 luó · gather 罢 bà · stop 置 zhì · place | Flattens to 罒 at top of compound |
| 144 | 羊 | → | ⺶ | yáng | Sheep | Top |
HSK 2 | 美 měi · beautiful 善 shàn · kind 样 yàng · type | Beauty = big sheep in ancient thought! |
| 145 | 耒 | = | 耒 | lěi | Plow | Left |
HSK 6+ | 耕 gēng · plough 耗 hào · consume 耙 bà · rake | Agricultural tool; rare in modern use |
| 146 | 聿 | = | 聿 | yù | Writing brush | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 律 lǜ · law 建 jiàn · build 肃 sù · solemn | Ancient brush; rare as main radical |
| 147 | 臣 | = | 臣 | chén | Minister / Official | Varies |
HSK 5 | 卧 wò · lie down 临 lín · overlook 臣 chén · minister | Kneeling official; submission |
| 148 | 自 | = | 自 | zì | Self / From | Varies |
HSK 3 | 自 zì · self 鼻 bí · nose 息 xī · breath | Nose → self; 息 = self + heart = breath |
| 149 | 臼 | = | 臼 | jiù | Mortar | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 旧 jiù · old 舅 jiù · uncle 臼 jiù · mortar | Hollowed grinding vessel |
| 150 | 舛 | = | 舛 | chuǎn | Opposite feet | Bottom |
HSK 3 | 舞 wǔ · dance 舜 shùn · legendary emperor | 舞(dance) uses this at bottom! |
| 151 | 艮 | = | 艮 | gèn | Stopping / Firm | Varies |
HSK 4 | 很 hěn · very 根 gēn · root 良 liáng · good | Extremely common phonetic component |
| 152 | 虍 | = | 虍 | hū | Tiger stripes | Top-Left |
HSK 4 | 虎 hǔ · tiger 虑 lǜ · worry 虚 xū · empty | Tiger-stripe enclosure |
| 153 | 谷 | = | 谷 | gǔ | Valley | Varies |
HSK 4 | 欲 yù · desire 浴 yù · bathe 俗 sú · custom | Valley; also phonetic in many words |
| 154 | 豆 | = | 豆 | dòu | Bean / Legume | Varies |
HSK 5 | 短 duǎn · short 登 dēng · climb 豌 wān · pea | Originally a ritual food vessel |
| 155 | 豕 | = | 豕 | shǐ | Pig (archaic) | Bottom |
HSK 5 | 家 jiā · home 豪 háo · grand 象 xiàng · elephant | 家 = roof + pig = home! |
| 156 | 豸 | = | 豸 | zhì | Cat / Legless insect | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 猫 māo · cat 貌 mào · appearance 豹 bào · leopard | Creeping animal; feline |
| 157 | 赤 | = | 赤 | chì | Red / Bare | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 赤 chì · red 赦 shè · pardon 赧 nǎn · blush | Bright red; shame and nakedness |
| 158 | 車 | → | 车 | chē | Vehicle / Wheel | Left |
HSK 1 | 轮 lún · wheel 轻 qīng · light 辆 liàng · vehicle | Simplified from 車; transport |
| 159 | 辰 | = | 辰 | chén | Morning / 5th stem | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 辰 chén · morning 振 zhèn · shake 晨 chén · dawn | 5th earthly branch; rare radical |
| 160 | 釆 | = | 釆 | biàn | Distinguish / Track | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 释 shì · explain 采 cǎi · pick 番 fān · foreign | Animal paw-print; distinguish |
| 161 | 隶 | = | 隶 | lì | Attached / Subordinate | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 隶 lì · attached 康 kāng · health 逮 dài · catch | Subordinate; rare in modern use |
| 162 | 青 | = | 青 | qīng | Green / Young | Varies |
HSK 3 | 清 qīng · clear 请 qǐng · please 情 qíng · feeling | Phonetic in many common characters |
| 163 | 非 | = | 非 | fēi | Wrong / Not | Varies |
HSK 2 | 非 fēi · not 靠 kào · rely 悲 bēi · sad | Negative; back-to-back feathers |
| 164 | 韋 | → | 韦 | wéi | Tanned leather | Left |
HSK 5 | 韧 rèn · tough 违 wéi · violate 围 wéi · surround | Tanned hide; flexible strength |
| 165 | 韭 | = | 韭 | jiǔ | Leek / Chive | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 韭 jiǔ · leek 韮 jiǔ · leek | Chive plant; very rare |
| 166 | 風 | → | 风 | fēng | Wind | Surrounds |
HSK 3 | 飘 piāo · float 飓 jù · hurricane 风 fēng · wind | Simplified from 風 |
| 167 | 飛 | → | 飞 | fēi | Fly | Varies |
HSK 1 | 飞 fēi · fly 飘 piāo · flutter | Simplified from 飛; flight |
| 168 | 首 | = | 首 | shǒu | Head / First | Varies |
HSK 4 | 首 shǒu · head 道 dào · road 导 dǎo · lead | Head; leadership |
| 169 | 香 | = | 香 | xiāng | Fragrant | Varies |
HSK 3 | 香 xiāng · fragrant 馨 xīn · sweet scent | Fragrance; mainly standalone |
| 170 | 高 | = | 高 | gāo | Tall / High | Varies |
HSK 1 | 高 gāo · tall 稿 gǎo · draft 豪 háo · grand | Tall; mostly standalone at HSK level |
| 171 | 髟 | = | 髟 | biāo | Long hair | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 须 xū · must 发 fā · hair 髦 máo · fashionable | Long flowing hair; mainly traditional forms |
| 172 | 鬥 | → | 斗 | dòu | Fight / Quarrel | Surrounds |
HSK 6+ | 闹 nào · noisy 斗 dǒu · fight | Simplified to 斗 in modern Chinese |
| 173 | 鬯 | = | 鬯 | chàng | Ritual wine | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 鬯 chàng · ritual wine | Sacrificial vessel; extremely rare |
| 174 | 鬲 | = | 鬲 | lì | Tripod vessel | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 鬲 lì · tripod 融 róng · melt 隔 gé · separate | Ancient cooking tripod |
| 175 | 鹵 | → | 卤 | lǔ | Salt / Brine | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 盐 yán · salt 卤 lǔ · brine 鹵 lǔ · salt marsh | Salt and preservation; simplified |
| 176 | 鹿 | = | 鹿 | lù | Deer | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 鹿 lù · deer 麓 lù · foot of hill 麒 qí · unicorn | Deer; landscape and mythical terms |
| 177 | 麥 | → | 麦 | mài | Wheat / Barley | Varies |
HSK 5 | 麦 mài · wheat 面 miàn · noodles 麸 fū · bran | Grain crops; simplified from 麥 |
| 178 | 麻 | = | 麻 | má | Hemp / Flax | Top-Left |
HSK 4 | 麻 má · hemp 磨 mó · grind 摩 mó · rub | Rough fibre; also means numb |
| 179 | 黍 | = | 黍 | shǔ | Millet | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 黍 shǔ · millet 穗 suì · ear of grain | Ancient millet grain; very rare |
| 180 | 黹 | = | 黹 | zhǐ | Needlework | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 黹 zhǐ · needlework 黼 fǔ · embroidery | Embroidery on fabric; extremely rare |
| 181 | 黽 | → | 黾 | mǐn | Frog | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 黾 mǐn · frog 鼋 yuán · soft-shell turtle | Amphibian; very rare |
| 182 | 鼎 | = | 鼎 | dǐng | Cauldron | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 鼎 dǐng · cauldron 鼐 nài · large cauldron | 3-legged ritual vessel; symbol of power |
| 183 | 鼓 | = | 鼓 | gǔ | Drum | Varies |
HSK 5 | 鼓 gǔ · drum 鼙 pí · war drum 鼗 táo · rattle drum | Percussion instrument |
| 184 | 鼠 | = | 鼠 | shǔ | Rat / Mouse | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 鼠 shǔ · rat 鼹 yǎn · mole | Zodiac animal; rarely a productive radical |
| 185 | 鼻 | = | 鼻 | bí | Nose | Varies |
HSK 4 | 鼻 bí · nose 鼾 hān · snore | Mostly standalone; breathing |
| 186 | 齊 | → | 齐 | qí | Even / Orderly | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 济 jì · help 剂 jì · dose 齐 qí · orderly | Even; simplified from 齊 |
| 187 | 齒 | → | 齿 | chǐ | Teeth | Varies |
HSK 4 | 齿 chǐ · teeth 龄 líng · age 龄 líng · age | Age words use this radical |
| 188 | 龍 | → | 龙 | lóng | Dragon | Varies |
HSK 5 | 龙 lóng · dragon 宠 chǒng · spoil 聋 lóng · deaf | Simplified from 龍; powerful symbol |
| 189 | 龜 | → | 龟 | guī | Tortoise | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 龟 guī · tortoise | Zodiac animal; extremely rare radical |
| 190 | 龠 | = | 龠 | yuè | Flute / Pipe | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 龠 yuè · flute | Ancient wind instrument; rarest radical |
| 191 | 丨 | = | 丨 | gǔn | Vertical line | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 中 zhōng · middle 书 shū · book 串 chuàn · string | Pure vertical stroke; rarely the main radical |
| 192 | 丶 | = | 丶 | zhǔ | Dot | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 主 zhǔ · main 为 wéi · for 太 tài · very | Dot stroke; mostly part of larger radicals |
| 193 | 丿 | = | 丿 | piě | Left-falling stroke | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 么 me · particle 乃 nǎi · so 久 jiǔ · long time | Diagonal left stroke; basic element |
| 194 | 乙 | = | 乙 | yǐ | Second / Hook | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 也 yě · also 买 mǎi · buy 乾 gān · dry | 2nd heavenly stem; hook stroke |
| 195 | 亅 | = | 亅 | jué | Hook | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 了 le · completed 事 shì · matter 手 shǒu · hand | Vertical stroke with hook at base |
| 196 | 凵 | = | 凵 | kǎn | Open box (up) | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 出 chū · exit 凸 tū · convex 凶 xiōng · fierce | Receptacle open at top; rare main radical |
| 197 | 勺 | = | 勺 | sháo | Ladle | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 勺 sháo · ladle 约 yuē · about 的 de · possessive | Spoon shape; mostly phonetic |
| 198 | 匕 | = | 匕 | bǐ | Spoon / Dagger | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 北 běi · north 比 bǐ · compare 化 huà · change | Dagger or spoon; directional |
| 199 | 匸 | = | 匸 | xǐ | Conceal | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 区 qū · area 匹 pǐ · match 医 yī · medicine | Hidden/concealed; very rare |
| 200 | 卩 | = | 卩 | jié | Kneeling person | Right |
HSK 6+ | 印 yìn · print 卷 juǎn · roll 即 jí · immediately | Crouching figure; right side |
| 201 | 厂 | = | 厂 | hǎn | Cliff | Top-Left |
HSK 5 | 厂 chǎng · factory 厨 chú · kitchen 厉 lì · strict | Overhanging cliff enclosure |
| 202 | 厶 | = | 厶 | sī | Private | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 去 qù · go 么 me · particle 公 gōng · public | Private/selfish; structural element |
| 203 | 夂 | = | 夂 | zhǐ | Go slowly (down) | Bottom |
HSK 6+ | 冬 dōng · winter 处 chǔ · place 各 gè · each | Slow descending movement |
| 204 | 夊 | = | 夊 | suī | Go slowly (variant) | Bottom |
HSK 6+ | 夏 xià · summer 夔 kuí · legendary figure | Rare variant of 夂 |
| 205 | 寸 | = | 寸 | cùn | Inch / Small unit | Right |
HSK 6+ | 对 duì · correct 寺 sì · temple 尊 zūn · respect | Unit of length; hand with a dot |
| 206 | 尢 | = | 尢 | wāng | Lame | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 尤 yóu · especially 就 jiù · then 龙 lóng · dragon | Bent/lame figure; rare |
| 207 | 屮 | = | 屮 | chè | Sprout | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 出 chū · exit 屯 tún · store 艹 cǎo · grass | Single sprout; precursor to 艹 |
| 208 | 巛 | = | 巛 | chuān | River / Stream | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 州 zhōu · state 巡 xún · patrol 巢 cháo · nest | Flowing water variant |
| 209 | 弋 | = | 弋 | yì | Dart / Shoot | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 式 shì · style 弋 yì · shoot 忆 yì · remember | Arrow with cord; hunting |
| 210 | 彐 | = | 彐 | jì | Snout | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 录 lù · record 彗 huì · comet 归 guī · return | Pig snout shape; rare |
| 211 | 支 | = | 支 | zhī | Branch / Support | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 支 zhī · branch 翅 chì · wing 鼓 gǔ · drum | Branch; support; rare as radical |
| 212 | 殳 | = | 殳 | shū | Weapon / Strike | Right |
HSK 6+ | 段 duàn · section 殴 ōu · beat 没 méi · not have | Weapon; hitting action |
| 213 | 爻 | = | 爻 | yáo | Hexagram lines | Varies |
HSK 6+ | 爻 yáo · lines 爽 shuǎng · refreshing 乘 chéng · ride | Lines of trigrams; rare |
| 214 | 爿 | = | 爿 | qiáng | Split wood / Bed | Left |
HSK 6+ | 床 chuáng · bed 将 jiāng · will 状 zhuàng · condition | Half-split log; bed side |