Radicals 部首

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

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

A single dot. Think of it as a drop or a marking point in characters.

A leftward diagonal stroke. It appears in numbers like 九 (nine).

Means 'second' (as in B, the second in rank). Its shape is a hook.

A hook shape — think of it like a fishing hook. Found in characters like 了.

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

Looks like a lid or a crown on top of characters. Found in many kanji like 京 (capital).

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).

Two legs stretching down. Found at the bottom of characters like 兄 (older brother).

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

Means the number eight. The strokes spread apart like 'eight' splitting in two.

An enclosure open at the bottom. Wraps around the top and sides of characters like 同 (same).

A crown or cover shape at the top. Like a hat covering the character below.

Two dots — represents ice or cold. Found in 冬 (winter) and 冷 (cold).

A table or wind shelf. In 風 (wind) it wraps the inner element on the outside.

An open box or container shape. Like a bowl or receptacle open at the top.

A knife or blade. On the right side it becomes 刂 (りっとう), as in 切 (cut).

Muscular strength. Think of an arm flexing. 男 (man) = rice field + power.

A wrapping enclosure. Wraps around the upper-right side, like in 包 (wrap) and 句 (phrase).

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

A three-sided box open at the top. Found in 区 (district) and 医 (medicine).

Similar to box but with a longer left side — represents hiding or covering.

The number ten. A cross shape — horizontal and vertical lines crossing.

Fortune-telling, a crack on a bone. A vertical line with a hook on the left.

A seal stamp — a kneeling figure seen from the side. Found in 印 (stamp).

A cliff or overhang — a horizontal line with a left drop. Found in 原 (original/field).

Selfishness or privacy. 私 (I/me) contains this radical. Opposite of 公 (public).

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

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

A full enclosure (big square). Wraps completely around the inside element. 国 (country).

A pile of earth. Three strokes: cross on top, horizontal base. 地 (ground/earth).

A samurai or scholar. Similar to 土 (earth) but the top stroke is longer.

Walking legs — to go. Also known as 'winter head' because it tops 冬 (winter).

Slow movement, dragging feet. Found at the bottom of 夏 (summer) and 変 (change).

A crescent moon — represents evening. 名 (name) = evening + mouth (you can't see faces in the dark).

A person standing with arms outstretched — big or great. 天 (heaven) = big + one.

A woman kneeling. 好 (like/good) = woman + child. 妹 (younger sister) = woman + unripe.

A baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. 字 (character/letter) = roof + child.

A roof or ceiling. 家 (house/home) = roof + pig. 安 (peace) = roof + woman.

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

Three small drops or dots — something small or tiny.

A bent, lame person. A person with a crooked leg.

A flag and a corpse — but actually a person sitting down. 屋 (shop/roof).

A sprouting plant pushing through the soil. Two small shoots.

Three peaks — a mountain. 岩 (rock) = mountain + stone. 島 (island) = bird + mountain.

A winding river. 川 (river) is three strokes. 州 (state/province) = river with islands.

A carpenter's square — work or craft. 左 (left) = hand + work.

A coiled snake — oneself. 記 (record) = speech + oneself.

A cloth or turban hanging down. 布 (cloth). 市 (city) = lid + turban.

A pole or shield — to dry. 平 (flat/peace). 刊 (publish) = dry + knife.

Short thread or tiny. Two strands of silk. 幼 (infant) = short thread + power.

A cliff with a dot — a building or store. 店 (shop) = dotted cliff + to divine.

A long stride or to stretch. A walking figure with a long step.

Two hands together — offering or holding. 開 (open) = gate + two hands lifting the bar.

A post or stake — to shoot. A pole with a crossbar.

A hunting bow. 引 (pull) = bow + line. 弱 (weak) = two bows.

A pig's snout or a broom. 雪 (snow) = rain + broom.

Three streaks — hair, fur, or decorative lines. 形 (shape). 彩 (color).

A step with the left foot — the left half of 行 (go). Found in movement-related kanji. 待 (wait).

The anatomical heart. Left form 忄 is used in emotion kanji. 思 (think) = brain + heart.

A spear or halberd — a weapon on a pole. 武 (military). 戦 (war/fight).

A single-leaf door. 所 (place) = door + axe. 房 (room/tassel).

A hand with five fingers. Left form 扌 (てへん) appears in action kanji. 持 (hold). 投 (throw).

A branch of a tree — to support. 技 (skill) = hand + branch. 枝 (branch) = tree + branch.

A hand holding a stick — to tap or strike. 改 (reform). 教 (teach). 散 (scatter).

A person with a decorated chest — writing, literature. 文 (sentence/writing).

A ladle or dipper — a unit of volume. 料 (fee/ingredient) = rice + dipper.

An axe — also a unit of weight. 新 (new) = standing + tree + axe (tree cut anew).

A square shape — direction or person. 放 (release) = square + rap. 旅 (travel) = square + people.

The negative — not, nothing. 既 (already) = not + eating + standing.

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

A sun but wider — to say or speak. 書 (write) = brush + say. 会 (meet).

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

A tree with trunk, branches, and roots. 林 (grove) = two trees. 森 (forest) = three trees.

A person with an open mouth — lacking, yawning. 飲 (drink) = eat + lack. 歌 (song) = speech + lack.

A foot with three toes — to stop. 正 (correct) = one + stop. 歩 (walk) = stop + lack.

A broken bone — death or decay. 死 (death) = death + kneeling person.

A hand holding a weapon or tool. 殺 (kill). 殴 (hit/strike).

A mother — the character 母 (mother). 毎 (every) = person + mother (originally, each time).

Two people standing side by side — to compare. 皆 (all) = compare + white.

Animal fur or hair. 筆 (writing brush) = bamboo + fur. 尾 (tail) = corpse + fur.

A clan or family name. 紙 (paper) = thread + clan.

Steam or vapor rising. 気 (spirit/energy/air) is one of the most common kanji. 電 (electricity).

Flowing water. Left form 氵 (さんずい) appears in hundreds of water-related kanji. 海 (sea). 酒 (alcohol).

A flame. Bottom form 灬 (れんが) appears in fire-related kanji. 焼 (burn). 熱 (heat).

A claw or hand reaching down. Top form 爫 is in 受 (receive) and 採 (pick/gather).

A hand holding a stick — an authoritative father figure.

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

A split piece of wood — the left half. 片 (one-sided) is the right half. 版 (edition).

A slice or fragment — one side of a split piece of wood.

A fang or tusk. 芽 (sprout/bud) = grass + fang. 雅 (elegant).

A cow's head with horns. Left form 牜 is in 物 (thing) and 特 (special).

A running dog. Left form 犭 (けものへん) is the animal radical. 猫 (cat). 状 (condition).

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

Jade or a jewel. Left form 王 (おうへん) but actually a jade bead on a string. 宝 (treasure).

A melon growing on a vine. A gourd or melon shape.

Tiles on a roof — baked clay. 瓶 (bottle/flask) = tile + jar.

Something sweet — a mouth (口) with something sweet inside. 甘 (sweet).

A sprouting plant — life, birth. 産 (give birth) = life + cliff. 星 (star) = sun + life.

To use. Original meaning was a fence or enclosure for a specific purpose.

A rice field divided into sections. 男 (man) = field + power. 思 (think) = brain + heart.

A bolt of cloth or a roll of fabric. Also a counter for animals.

A sickbed — represents illness or disease. 病 (sick). 痛 (pain). 疲 (tired).

Footsteps going up — to depart or ascend. 発 (depart). 登 (climb).

The color white. Originally an acorn or a skull. 百 (hundred) = one + white. 的 (target).

Animal skin or hide. A hand peeling skin from an animal. 被 (wear/incur).

A flat dish or plate. 血 (blood) = dish + drop (blood in a dish). 盛 (prosper/heap).

An eye. 見 (see) = eye + legs. 眠 (sleep) = eye + people + death.

A spear or halberd with a curved blade. 柔 (soft) = spear + tree. 務 (duty).

An arrow. 知 (know) = arrow + mouth (knowledge flies like an arrow). 医 (medicine).

A stone under a cliff. 岩 (rock) = mountain + stone. 研 (sharpen) = stone + hand.

An altar or spiritual sign. Left form 礻 (しめすへん) for religious/spiritual kanji. 礼 (bow/thanks). 社 (shrine).

An animal's footprint or track. 偶 (accidental/even number).

A stalk of grain. 秋 (autumn) = grain + fire (burning fields). 科 (department/science).

A cave or hole. 空 (sky/empty) = cave + work. 究 (research) = cave + nine.

A person standing on the ground. 音 (sound) = stand + sun. 新 (new).

Bamboo stalks. Top form ⺮ (たけかんむり) appears on many kanji. 筆 (brush). 笑 (laugh).

Rice grains. 料 (fee/ingredient) = rice + dipper. 粉 (powder/flour) = rice + split.

Thread or silk. Left form 糹 (いとへん) is common in thread/fabric kanji. 紅 (crimson). 紙 (paper).

A jar or earthenware pot. Also a can/tin (modern usage).

A fishing net. 罪 (crime) = net + wrong. 買 (buy) = net + shell (money).

A sheep with horns and a tail. 洋 (ocean) = water + sheep. 美 (beauty) = sheep + big.

Two feathers or wings. 習 (learn) = feather + white (flapping wings). 翌 (next day).

An old person with bent back and long hair. 考 (think). 者 (person).

A beard hanging down — also means 'and' or 'yet'. A classical Chinese conjunction.

A wooden plow. Agriculture-related kanji. 耕 (plow/cultivate).

An ear. 聞 (hear/ask) = gate + ear. 職 (occupation) = ear + sound + spear.

A writing brush held in a hand. 書 (write) = brush + say. 筆 (brush) = bamboo + brush.

Meat or flesh. Its component form looks like 月 (moon) and appears in body-part kanji. 胃 (stomach).

A minister or retainer. A vertical eye — one who serves and watches. 臨 (face/confront).

The nose — pointing to oneself. 鼻 (nose) = self + field + two. 息 (breath) = self + heart.

An arrow hitting the ground — to arrive. 室 (room) = roof + arrive. 致 (do/cause).

A mortar (bowl for grinding). A container with contents. 興 (enjoy/prosper).

A tongue — mouth + a thousand (thousand tastes). 話 (talk) = speech + tongue. 活 (active).

Two feet pointing in opposite directions — opposition or dancing. 舞 (dance).

A boat or ship. 船 (ship) = boat + eight + mouth. 航 (navigate).

Stopping or turning back. 根 (root) = tree + stopping. 眼 (eye) = eye + stopping.

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

Grass or plants. Top form 艹 (くさかんむり) is extremely common. 花 (flower). 茶 (tea).

A tiger's stripes or head. 虎 (tiger). 虚 (empty/void). 虐 (cruel/oppress).

An insect or creeping creature. Originally a venomous snake. 蛙 (frog). 蛇 (snake).

Blood — a dish (皿) with a splash of blood. 衆 (crowd/people).

A crossroads — to go or walk. 街 (street) = go + earth + again. 術 (technique).

Clothing. Left form 衤 (ころもへん) for clothing-related kanji. 初 (first/begining). 被 (wear).

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

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

An animal horn. 解 (untie/solve) = horn + knife + cow. 触 (touch).

Words from a mouth — speech. Left form 訁 (ごんべん) is very common. 話 (talk). 語 (language).

A mountain valley — water flowing between mountains. 欲 (desire) = valley + lack. 容 (contain).

A bean or a ceremonial vessel on a stand. 登 (climb) = footsteps + bean. 豊 (abundant).

A pig with a bristly back and tail. 豚 (pork/pig) = pig + meat. 家 (house) = roof + pig.

A badger or beast without fangs. 豹 (leopard). 貌 (appearance/form).

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

The color red — big fire (大 + 火). 赦 (pardon). 跡 (trace/footprint).

A person running with swinging arms. 起 (wake up) = run + oneself. 超 (exceed) = run + knife + mouth.

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

A pregnant woman — the body. 射 (shoot) = body + inch(sun). 船 (boat) = boat + eight + mouth.

A wheeled cart seen from above. 輪 (wheel/ring). 転 (revolve/fall).

A tattoo needle — bitter or painful. 辞 (quit/word) = tongue + bitter. 辣 (spicy).

A shellfish with a shell — the Dragon (zodiac sign). Also morning. 震 (earthquake).

A street and a foot — to walk. Bottom-left form 辶 (しんにょう) is very common. 道 (road). 送 (send).

A city or town. Right form 阝 (おおざと) appears in place-name kanji. 都 (metropolis). 部 (part/section).

A wine jar — liquor or fermentation. 酒 (alcohol) = water + wine. 配 (distribute).

An animal's footprint — to distinguish or separate. 番 (number/turn) = rice + distinguish.

A village or mile. Rice field + earth. 野 (field/plain) = village + spear. 理 (reason/logic).

Gold or metal. Left form 釒 (かねへん) for metal-related kanji. 銀 (silver). 鉄 (iron).

A person with long hair — long or leader. 髪 (hair) = long + friend + fur. 張 (stretch).

A double-leaf gate. 開 (open) = gate + two hands. 間 (interval/space) = gate + sun.

A hill or mound. Left form 阝 (こざとへん) for hill/geography kanji. 院 (institution). 陽 (sunshine).

A slave or servant — to catch or capture. 逮 (arrest) = walk + slave.

A short-tailed bird. 雀 (sparrow) = small + bird. 集 (gather) = birds on a tree.

Rain falling from a cloud. 電 (electricity) = rain + field. 雲 (cloud) = rain + cloud.

The color blue/green. 晴 (clear weather) = sun + blue. 静 (quiet/calm) = blue + fight.

Wings folded — negation, wrong, non-. 悲 (sad) = wrong + heart. 排 (expel/reject).

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

Treated animal hide — leather. 靴 (shoes) = leather + transform.

Tanned leather — to surround. 違 (differ/wrong) = walk + leather. 偉 (great).

A leek or scallion plant. A vegetable radical.

Sound or noise. Stand + sun (words from a mouth). 暗 (dark) = sun + sound. 意 (mind).

A head — also means page. 頭 (head) = bean + page. 顔 (face) = page + skin.

Wind — a sail on a pole with wind lines. 嵐 (storm) = mountain + wind. 楓 (maple).

A bird spreading wings and flying upward. 飛行機 (airplane).

A food vessel with a lid — to eat. Left form 飠 (しょくへん) in food-related kanji. 飲 (drink). 飯 (rice).

A head with hair and a face. 道 (road) = walk + head (leading to a road).

Fragrant or sweet smell. Grain + sweet/sun. 薫 (fragrance/send forth).

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

A skeleton or bone. 体 (body) = person + bone. 滑 (slippery) = water + bone.

A tall building. 橋 (bridge) = tree + heaven + mouth + tall.

Long flowing hair. 髪 (hair) = long + friend + hair. 髭 (beard/moustache).

Two doors with a fight inside — to fight or conflict. 闘 (fight).

Herbs in a wine container — aromatic sacrificial wine.

A large tripod cauldron for cooking. 融 (melt/dissolve). 隔 (separate).

A demon or ghost with a large head. 魂 (soul) = cloud + ghost. 魅 (fascination).

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

A long-tailed bird. 鳴 (chirp/sound) = mouth + bird. 鶴 (crane — the bird).

Crude salt or brine. 鹸 (lye/alkali). 鹹 (salty).

A deer with antlers. 麗 (beautiful/elegant). 麓 (foot of a mountain).

Wheat or barley. 麦 (wheat/barley) is the Japanese simplified form. 麺 (noodles).

Hemp plant — used for fibers and medicine. 摩 (rub/scrub). 魔 (evil/demon).

The color yellow. 黄 (yellow). 横 (side/horizontal) = tree + yellow.

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

Color black — a chimney with soot. 点 (point/spot) = black + divination. 黙 (silent).

Embroidery or needlework. Decorative stitching on fabric.

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

A three-legged bronze cauldron — a symbol of power and authority.

A drum with a stick and decorations. 響 (echo/sound) = village + drum.

A rat or mouse — with teeth, tail, and body. 鼬 (weasel).

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

Even or equal. 斉 (together/equal). 斎 (purification). 剤 (dose/medicine).

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

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

A turtle with a shell and tail. 亀 (turtle) is the simplified form.

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