Radicals 部首

214 radicals · 214 Kangxi radicals · The building blocks of kanji

How to use this guide

Reading — the Japanese name for the radical
Variants — alternative shapes (e.g. 人 → 亻)
Examples — common kanji that use this radical
Tips — mnemonic hints to remember the meaning

1 stroke

6 radicals

一oneいちThe simplest radical — a single horizontal stroke. Means 'one' and appears in many basic kanji.

#1→丨lineぼうA vertical line. It's not used alone but appears as a stroke in characters like 中 (middle).

#2→丶dotてんA single dot. Think of it as a drop or a marking point in characters.

#3→丿slashのA leftward diagonal stroke. It appears in numbers like 九 (nine).

#4→乙secondおつMeans 'second' (as in B, the second in rank). Its shape is a hook.

#5→亅hookはねぼうA hook shape — think of it like a fishing hook. Found in characters like 了.

2 strokes

23 radicals

二twoにTwo horizontal strokes representing the number two. Also serves as a component in other kanji.

#7→亠lidなべぶたLooks like a lid or a crown on top of characters. Found in many kanji like 京 (capital).

#8→人personひとvariants: [object Object] [object Object]Two legs — a person standing. As a left radical it becomes 亻 (にんべん), as in 休 (rest — a person leaning on a tree).

#9→儿legsにんにょうTwo legs stretching down. Found at the bottom of characters like 兄 (older brother).

#10→入enterいるA pointed roof shape meaning 'to enter'. Different from 人 (person) — the tip points right.

#11→八eightはちMeans the number eight. The strokes spread apart like 'eight' splitting in two.

#12→冂wideけいがまえAn enclosure open at the bottom. Wraps around the top and sides of characters like 同 (same).

#13→冖crownわかんむりA crown or cover shape at the top. Like a hat covering the character below.

#14→冫iceにすいTwo dots — represents ice or cold. Found in 冬 (winter) and 冷 (cold).

#15→几tableきにょうA table or wind shelf. In 風 (wind) it wraps the inner element on the outside.

#16→凵receptacleかんにょうAn open box or container shape. Like a bowl or receptacle open at the top.

#17→刀knifeかたなvariants: [object Object]A knife or blade. On the right side it becomes 刂 (りっとう), as in 切 (cut).

#18→力powerちからMuscular strength. Think of an arm flexing. 男 (man) = rice field + power.

#19→勹wrapつつみがまえA wrapping enclosure. Wraps around the upper-right side, like in 包 (wrap) and 句 (phrase).

#20→匕spoonさじAn upside-down spoon or ladle. A small, angled shape found in 化 (change) and 北 (north).

#21→匚boxはこがまえA three-sided box open at the top. Found in 区 (district) and 医 (medicine).

#22→匸hidingかくしがまえSimilar to box but with a longer left side — represents hiding or covering.

#23→十tenじゅうThe number ten. A cross shape — horizontal and vertical lines crossing.

#24→卜divinationぼくFortune-telling, a crack on a bone. A vertical line with a hook on the left.

#25→卩sealわりふA seal stamp — a kneeling figure seen from the side. Found in 印 (stamp).

#26→厂cliffがんだれA cliff or overhang — a horizontal line with a left drop. Found in 原 (original/field).

#27→厶privateむSelfishness or privacy. 私 (I/me) contains this radical. Opposite of 公 (public).

#28→又againまたA right hand — means 'again' or 'also'. Original pictograph of a hand. 友 (friend) = two hands.

3 strokes

31 radicals

口mouthくちA square opening — the mouth. One of the most common radicals, found in hundreds of kanji.

#30→囗enclosureくにがまえA full enclosure (big square). Wraps completely around the inside element. 国 (country).

#31→土earthつちA pile of earth. Three strokes: cross on top, horizontal base. 地 (ground/earth).

#32→士scholarさむらいA samurai or scholar. Similar to 土 (earth) but the top stroke is longer.

#33→夂goふゆがしらWalking legs — to go. Also known as 'winter head' because it tops 冬 (winter).

#34→夊slowlyすいにょうSlow movement, dragging feet. Found at the bottom of 夏 (summer) and 変 (change).

#35→夕eveningゆうべA crescent moon — represents evening. 名 (name) = evening + mouth (you can't see faces in the dark).

#36→大bigだいA person standing with arms outstretched — big or great. 天 (heaven) = big + one.

#37→女womanおんなA woman kneeling. 好 (like/good) = woman + child. 妹 (younger sister) = woman + unripe.

#38→子childこA baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. 字 (character/letter) = roof + child.

#39→宀roofうかんむりA roof or ceiling. 家 (house/home) = roof + pig. 安 (peace) = roof + woman.

#40→寸inchすんA hand with a dot — the Chinese inch (a thumb's width). 寺 (temple) = dirt + inch.

#41→小smallしょうThree small drops or dots — something small or tiny.

#42→尢lameだいてんA bent, lame person. A person with a crooked leg.

#43→尸corpseしかばねA flag and a corpse — but actually a person sitting down. 屋 (shop/roof).

#44→屮sproutてつA sprouting plant pushing through the soil. Two small shoots.

#45→山mountainやまThree peaks — a mountain. 岩 (rock) = mountain + stone. 島 (island) = bird + mountain.

#46→巛riverかわvariants: [object Object]A winding river. 川 (river) is three strokes. 州 (state/province) = river with islands.

#47→工workたくみA carpenter's square — work or craft. 左 (left) = hand + work.

#48→己oneselfおのれA coiled snake — oneself. 記 (record) = speech + oneself.

#49→巾turbanはばA cloth or turban hanging down. 布 (cloth). 市 (city) = lid + turban.

#50→干dryほすA pole or shield — to dry. 平 (flat/peace). 刊 (publish) = dry + knife.

#51→幺short threadいとがしらShort thread or tiny. Two strands of silk. 幼 (infant) = short thread + power.

#52→广dotted cliffまだれA cliff with a dot — a building or store. 店 (shop) = dotted cliff + to divine.

#53→廴long strideえんにょうA long stride or to stretch. A walking figure with a long step.

#54→廾handsにじゅうあしTwo hands together — offering or holding. 開 (open) = gate + two hands lifting the bar.

#55→弋shootしきがまえA post or stake — to shoot. A pole with a crossbar.

#56→弓bowゆみA hunting bow. 引 (pull) = bow + line. 弱 (weak) = two bows.

#57→彐snoutけいがしらA pig's snout or a broom. 雪 (snow) = rain + broom.

#58→彡bristleさんづくりThree streaks — hair, fur, or decorative lines. 形 (shape). 彩 (color).

#59→彳stepぎょうにんべんA step with the left foot — the left half of 行 (go). Found in movement-related kanji. 待 (wait).

4 strokes

34 radicals

心heartこころvariants: [object Object] [object Object]The anatomical heart. Left form 忄 is used in emotion kanji. 思 (think) = brain + heart.

#61→戈spearほこづくりA spear or halberd — a weapon on a pole. 武 (military). 戦 (war/fight).

#62→戶doorとvariants: [object Object]A single-leaf door. 所 (place) = door + axe. 房 (room/tassel).

#63→手handてvariants: [object Object]A hand with five fingers. Left form 扌 (てへん) appears in action kanji. 持 (hold). 投 (throw).

#64→支branchしA branch of a tree — to support. 技 (skill) = hand + branch. 枝 (branch) = tree + branch.

#65→攴rapぼくづくりvariants: [object Object]A hand holding a stick — to tap or strike. 改 (reform). 教 (teach). 散 (scatter).

#66→文scriptぶんA person with a decorated chest — writing, literature. 文 (sentence/writing).

#67→斗dipperとますA ladle or dipper — a unit of volume. 料 (fee/ingredient) = rice + dipper.

#68→斤axeおのAn axe — also a unit of weight. 新 (new) = standing + tree + axe (tree cut anew).

#69→方squareほうA square shape — direction or person. 放 (release) = square + rap. 旅 (travel) = square + people.

#70→无notなしThe negative — not, nothing. 既 (already) = not + eating + standing.

#71→日sunにちThe sun — a circle with a dot in the center. 明 (bright) = sun + moon. 時 (time) = sun + temple.

#72→曰sayいわくA sun but wider — to say or speak. 書 (write) = brush + say. 会 (meet).

#73→月moonつきA crescent moon. Also used as a variant of 肉 (meat). 朝 (morning) = sun + moon. 有 (exist).

#74→木treeきA tree with trunk, branches, and roots. 林 (grove) = two trees. 森 (forest) = three trees.

#75→欠lackかけるA person with an open mouth — lacking, yawning. 飲 (drink) = eat + lack. 歌 (song) = speech + lack.

#76→止stopとまるA foot with three toes — to stop. 正 (correct) = one + stop. 歩 (walk) = stop + lack.

#77→歹deathがつA broken bone — death or decay. 死 (death) = death + kneeling person.

#78→殳weaponるまたA hand holding a weapon or tool. 殺 (kill). 殴 (hit/strike).

#79→毋motherなかれA mother — the character 母 (mother). 毎 (every) = person + mother (originally, each time).

#80→比compareくらべるTwo people standing side by side — to compare. 皆 (all) = compare + white.

#81→毛furけAnimal fur or hair. 筆 (writing brush) = bamboo + fur. 尾 (tail) = corpse + fur.

#82→氏clanうじA clan or family name. 紙 (paper) = thread + clan.

#83→气steamきがまえSteam or vapor rising. 気 (spirit/energy/air) is one of the most common kanji. 電 (electricity).

#84→水waterみずvariants: [object Object] [object Object]Flowing water. Left form 氵 (さんずい) appears in hundreds of water-related kanji. 海 (sea). 酒 (alcohol).

#85→火fireひvariants: [object Object]A flame. Bottom form 灬 (れんが) appears in fire-related kanji. 焼 (burn). 熱 (heat).

#86→爪clawつめvariants: [object Object]A claw or hand reaching down. Top form 爫 is in 受 (receive) and 採 (pick/gather).

#87→父fatherちちA hand holding a stick — an authoritative father figure.

#88→爻linesこうCrossed lines or marks — used in divination (like the I-Ching). 校 (school) = tree + lines.

#89→爿split woodしょうへんvariants: [object Object]A split piece of wood — the left half. 片 (one-sided) is the right half. 版 (edition).

#90→片sliceかたA slice or fragment — one side of a split piece of wood.

#91→牙fangきばA fang or tusk. 芽 (sprout/bud) = grass + fang. 雅 (elegant).

#92→牛cowうしvariants: [object Object]A cow's head with horns. Left form 牜 is in 物 (thing) and 特 (special).

#93→犬dogいぬvariants: [object Object]A running dog. Left form 犭 (けものへん) is the animal radical. 猫 (cat). 状 (condition).

5 strokes

23 radicals

玄mysteriousげんMysterious or profound. Dark, deep, hidden. 畜 (livestock).

#95→玉jadeぎょくvariants: [object Object]Jade or a jewel. Left form 王 (おうへん) but actually a jade bead on a string. 宝 (treasure).

#96→瓜melonうりA melon growing on a vine. A gourd or melon shape.

#97→瓦tileかわらTiles on a roof — baked clay. 瓶 (bottle/flask) = tile + jar.

#98→甘sweetあまいSomething sweet — a mouth (口) with something sweet inside. 甘 (sweet).

#99→生lifeせいA sprouting plant — life, birth. 産 (give birth) = life + cliff. 星 (star) = sun + life.

#100→用useようTo use. Original meaning was a fence or enclosure for a specific purpose.

#101→田fieldたA rice field divided into sections. 男 (man) = field + power. 思 (think) = brain + heart.

#102→疋bolt of clothひきA bolt of cloth or a roll of fabric. Also a counter for animals.

#103→疒sicknessやまいだれA sickbed — represents illness or disease. 病 (sick). 痛 (pain). 疲 (tired).

#104→癶footstepsはつがしらFootsteps going up — to depart or ascend. 発 (depart). 登 (climb).

#105→白whiteしろThe color white. Originally an acorn or a skull. 百 (hundred) = one + white. 的 (target).

#106→皮skinけがわAnimal skin or hide. A hand peeling skin from an animal. 被 (wear/incur).

#107→皿dishさらA flat dish or plate. 血 (blood) = dish + drop (blood in a dish). 盛 (prosper/heap).

#108→目eyeめAn eye. 見 (see) = eye + legs. 眠 (sleep) = eye + people + death.

#109→矛spearむのほこA spear or halberd with a curved blade. 柔 (soft) = spear + tree. 務 (duty).

#110→矢arrowやAn arrow. 知 (know) = arrow + mouth (knowledge flies like an arrow). 医 (medicine).

#111→石stoneいしA stone under a cliff. 岩 (rock) = mountain + stone. 研 (sharpen) = stone + hand.

#112→示altarしめすvariants: [object Object]An altar or spiritual sign. Left form 礻 (しめすへん) for religious/spiritual kanji. 礼 (bow/thanks). 社 (shrine).

#113→禸trackぐうAn animal's footprint or track. 偶 (accidental/even number).

#114→禾grainいねA stalk of grain. 秋 (autumn) = grain + fire (burning fields). 科 (department/science).

#115→穴caveあなA cave or hole. 空 (sky/empty) = cave + work. 究 (research) = cave + nine.

#116→立standたつA person standing on the ground. 音 (sound) = stand + sun. 新 (new).

6 strokes

29 radicals

竹bambooたけvariants: [object Object]Bamboo stalks. Top form ⺮ (たけかんむり) appears on many kanji. 筆 (brush). 笑 (laugh).

#118→米riceこめRice grains. 料 (fee/ingredient) = rice + dipper. 粉 (powder/flour) = rice + split.

#119→糸silkいとvariants: [object Object]Thread or silk. Left form 糹 (いとへん) is common in thread/fabric kanji. 紅 (crimson). 紙 (paper).

#120→缶jarほとぎA jar or earthenware pot. Also a can/tin (modern usage).

#121→网netあみvariants: [object Object] [object Object]A fishing net. 罪 (crime) = net + wrong. 買 (buy) = net + shell (money).

#122→羊sheepひつじA sheep with horns and a tail. 洋 (ocean) = water + sheep. 美 (beauty) = sheep + big.

#123→羽featherはねTwo feathers or wings. 習 (learn) = feather + white (flapping wings). 翌 (next day).

#124→老oldろうAn old person with bent back and long hair. 考 (think). 者 (person).

#125→而andにA beard hanging down — also means 'and' or 'yet'. A classical Chinese conjunction.

#126→耒plowすきA wooden plow. Agriculture-related kanji. 耕 (plow/cultivate).

#127→耳earみみAn ear. 聞 (hear/ask) = gate + ear. 職 (occupation) = ear + sound + spear.

#128→聿brushふでA writing brush held in a hand. 書 (write) = brush + say. 筆 (brush) = bamboo + brush.

#129→肉meatにくvariants: [object Object]Meat or flesh. Its component form looks like 月 (moon) and appears in body-part kanji. 胃 (stomach).

#130→臣ministerしんA minister or retainer. A vertical eye — one who serves and watches. 臨 (face/confront).

#131→自selfみずからThe nose — pointing to oneself. 鼻 (nose) = self + field + two. 息 (breath) = self + heart.

#132→至arriveいたるAn arrow hitting the ground — to arrive. 室 (room) = roof + arrive. 致 (do/cause).

#133→臼mortarうすA mortar (bowl for grinding). A container with contents. 興 (enjoy/prosper).

#134→舌tongueしたA tongue — mouth + a thousand (thousand tastes). 話 (talk) = speech + tongue. 活 (active).

#135→舛oppositeまいTwo feet pointing in opposite directions — opposition or dancing. 舞 (dance).

#136→舟boatふねA boat or ship. 船 (ship) = boat + eight + mouth. 航 (navigate).

#137→艮stoppingこんStopping or turning back. 根 (root) = tree + stopping. 眼 (eye) = eye + stopping.

#138→色colorいろColor or appearance. A kneeling person + a kneeling person (intimacy → color/expression).

#139→艸grassくさvariants: [object Object]Grass or plants. Top form 艹 (くさかんむり) is extremely common. 花 (flower). 茶 (tea).

#140→虍tigerとらA tiger's stripes or head. 虎 (tiger). 虚 (empty/void). 虐 (cruel/oppress).

#141→虫insectむしAn insect or creeping creature. Originally a venomous snake. 蛙 (frog). 蛇 (snake).

#142→血bloodちBlood — a dish (皿) with a splash of blood. 衆 (crowd/people).

#143→行goぎょうA crossroads — to go or walk. 街 (street) = go + earth + again. 術 (technique).

#144→衣clothesころもvariants: [object Object]Clothing. Left form 衤 (ころもへん) for clothing-related kanji. 初 (first/begining). 被 (wear).

#145→西westにしA bird on its nest — west (the direction where birds return). 要 (important/need). 票 (ballot).

7 strokes

20 radicals

見seeみるAn eye on legs — to see. 親 (parent) = stand + tree + see. 観 (observe/view).

#147→角hornつのAn animal horn. 解 (untie/solve) = horn + knife + cow. 触 (touch).

#148→言speechことばvariants: [object Object]Words from a mouth — speech. Left form 訁 (ごんべん) is very common. 話 (talk). 語 (language).

#149→谷valleyたにA mountain valley — water flowing between mountains. 欲 (desire) = valley + lack. 容 (contain).

#150→豆beanまめA bean or a ceremonial vessel on a stand. 登 (climb) = footsteps + bean. 豊 (abundant).

#151→豕pigいのこA pig with a bristly back and tail. 豚 (pork/pig) = pig + meat. 家 (house) = roof + pig.

#152→豸badgerむじなA badger or beast without fangs. 豹 (leopard). 貌 (appearance/form).

#153→貝shellかいA cowrie shell — used as money in ancient China. 買 (buy) = net + shell. 貸 (lend).

#154→赤redあかThe color red — big fire (大 + 火). 赦 (pardon). 跡 (trace/footprint).

#155→走runはしるA person running with swinging arms. 起 (wake up) = run + oneself. 超 (exceed) = run + knife + mouth.

#156→足footあしA knee and a foot (止 on top of a rounded leg). 路 (road) = foot + each. 跳 (jump).

#157→身bodyみA pregnant woman — the body. 射 (shoot) = body + inch(sun). 船 (boat) = boat + eight + mouth.

#158→車cartくるまA wheeled cart seen from above. 輪 (wheel/ring). 転 (revolve/fall).

#159→辛bitterからいA tattoo needle — bitter or painful. 辞 (quit/word) = tongue + bitter. 辣 (spicy).

#160→辰morningたつA shellfish with a shell — the Dragon (zodiac sign). Also morning. 震 (earthquake).

#161→辵walkしんにょうvariants: [object Object]A street and a foot — to walk. Bottom-left form 辶 (しんにょう) is very common. 道 (road). 送 (send).

#162→邑cityむらvariants: [object Object]A city or town. Right form 阝 (おおざと) appears in place-name kanji. 都 (metropolis). 部 (part/section).

#163→酉wineとりA wine jar — liquor or fermentation. 酒 (alcohol) = water + wine. 配 (distribute).

#164→釆distinguishのごめAn animal's footprint — to distinguish or separate. 番 (number/turn) = rice + distinguish.

#165→里villageさとA village or mile. Rice field + earth. 野 (field/plain) = village + spear. 理 (reason/logic).

8 strokes

9 radicals

金metalかねvariants: [object Object]Gold or metal. Left form 釒 (かねへん) for metal-related kanji. 銀 (silver). 鉄 (iron).

#167→長longながいA person with long hair — long or leader. 髪 (hair) = long + friend + fur. 張 (stretch).

#168→門gateかどvariants: [object Object]A double-leaf gate. 開 (open) = gate + two hands. 間 (interval/space) = gate + sun.

#169→阜moundぎふvariants: [object Object]A hill or mound. Left form 阝 (こざとへん) for hill/geography kanji. 院 (institution). 陽 (sunshine).

#170→隶slaveたいA slave or servant — to catch or capture. 逮 (arrest) = walk + slave.

#171→隹birdふるとりA short-tailed bird. 雀 (sparrow) = small + bird. 集 (gather) = birds on a tree.

#172→雨rainあめRain falling from a cloud. 電 (electricity) = rain + field. 雲 (cloud) = rain + cloud.

#173→青blueあおThe color blue/green. 晴 (clear weather) = sun + blue. 静 (quiet/calm) = blue + fight.

#174→非wrongあらずWings folded — negation, wrong, non-. 悲 (sad) = wrong + heart. 排 (expel/reject).

9 strokes

11 radicals

面faceめんA face with eyes and a nose. 顔 (face) = face + page + skin. 麺 (noodles) = wheat + face.

#176→革leatherかわTreated animal hide — leather. 靴 (shoes) = leather + transform.

#177→韋tanned leatherゆきTanned leather — to surround. 違 (differ/wrong) = walk + leather. 偉 (great).

#178→韭leekにらA leek or scallion plant. A vegetable radical.

#179→音soundおとSound or noise. Stand + sun (words from a mouth). 暗 (dark) = sun + sound. 意 (mind).

#180→頁pageおおがいA head — also means page. 頭 (head) = bean + page. 顔 (face) = page + skin.

#181→風windかぜWind — a sail on a pole with wind lines. 嵐 (storm) = mountain + wind. 楓 (maple).

#182→飛flyとぶA bird spreading wings and flying upward. 飛行機 (airplane).

#183→食eatしょくvariants: [object Object]A food vessel with a lid — to eat. Left form 飠 (しょくへん) in food-related kanji. 飲 (drink). 飯 (rice).

#184→首headくびA head with hair and a face. 道 (road) = walk + head (leading to a road).

#185→香fragrantこうFragrant or sweet smell. Grain + sweet/sun. 薫 (fragrance/send forth).

10 strokes

8 radicals

馬horseうまA horse with mane and four legs. 駅 (station) = horse + easy/divination. 騎 (ride a horse).

#187→骨boneほねA skeleton or bone. 体 (body) = person + bone. 滑 (slippery) = water + bone.

#188→高tallたかいA tall building. 橋 (bridge) = tree + heaven + mouth + tall.

#189→髟hairかみがしらLong flowing hair. 髪 (hair) = long + friend + hair. 髭 (beard/moustache).

#190→鬥fightとうTwo doors with a fight inside — to fight or conflict. 闘 (fight).

#191→鬯sacrificial wineちょうHerbs in a wine container — aromatic sacrificial wine.

#192→鬲cauldronかくA large tripod cauldron for cooking. 融 (melt/dissolve). 隔 (separate).

#193→鬼ghostおにA demon or ghost with a large head. 魂 (soul) = cloud + ghost. 魅 (fascination).

11 strokes

7 radicals

魚fishうおA fish — with head, body, tail and scales. 鮮 (fresh) = fish + sheep. 漁 (fishing).

#195→鳥birdとりA long-tailed bird. 鳴 (chirp/sound) = mouth + bird. 鶴 (crane — the bird).

#196→鹵saltろCrude salt or brine. 鹸 (lye/alkali). 鹹 (salty).

#197→鹿deerしかA deer with antlers. 麗 (beautiful/elegant). 麓 (foot of a mountain).

#198→麥wheatむぎWheat or barley. 麦 (wheat/barley) is the Japanese simplified form. 麺 (noodles).

#199→麻hempあさHemp plant — used for fibers and medicine. 摩 (rub/scrub). 魔 (evil/demon).

#200→黃yellowきいろThe color yellow. 黄 (yellow). 横 (side/horizontal) = tree + yellow.

12 strokes

3 radicals

黍milletきびMillet — a type of grain used for food and making alcohol.

#202→黑blackくろColor black — a chimney with soot. 点 (point/spot) = black + divination. 黙 (silent).

#203→黹embroideryちEmbroidery or needlework. Decorative stitching on fabric.

13 strokes

4 radicals

黽frogべんA frog or amphibian. 鼈 (snapping turtle). 蠅 (fly/insect).

#205→鼎tripodかなえA three-legged bronze cauldron — a symbol of power and authority.

#206→鼓drumつづみA drum with a stick and decorations. 響 (echo/sound) = village + drum.

#207→鼠ratねずみA rat or mouse — with teeth, tail, and body. 鼬 (weasel).

14 strokes

2 radicals

鼻noseはなThe nose — self + field + two (self + breath + two openings). 鼾 (snore).

#209→齊evenせいEven or equal. 斉 (together/equal). 斎 (purification). 剤 (dose/medicine).

15 strokes

1 radicals

齒toothはTeeth in a mouth. 歯 (tooth) is the simplified form. 齢 (age).

16 strokes

2 radicals

龍dragonりゅうA mythical dragon. 竜 (dragon) is the simplified form. 滝 (waterfall) = water + dragon.

#212→龜turtleかめA turtle with a shell and tail. 亀 (turtle) is the simplified form.

17 strokes

1 radicals

龠fluteやくA bamboo flute with holes. 楽 (music/pleasure). 薬 (medicine/drug).