List of 214 Basic Chinese Radicals and Meanings [Free PDF]
It‘s seems that Chinese Learning is very difficult for oversea Beginners, with the character, the pronounciation, and various dialects, and Chinese cluture background, so thar many people get the urge to simply give up.
But according to many years of teaching experience, WuKong Chinese think that learning Chinese radicals (汉字偏旁部首) is always one of the best ways to learn Chinese characters. Do you want to know what are Chinese radicals list? And why should chinese learning beginners learn them? How many basic Chinese radicals should you master? Here we’ll answer those questions for you, and list top 214 most common Chinese radicals with detailed introducation about their meaning, pinyin, varints, examples. Let’s dive into this article!
![Basic 214 Common Chinese Radicals List [With Free Video + PDF]](https://wp-more.wukongedu.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image-614.png)
Wukong Chinese Learning Resources provides Chinese beginners with a free copybook of Chinese radicals, which allows you to practice Chinese character radicals online, improving your ability to write characters correctly and deepen their understanding of Chinese characters.
Part1. What are Chinese Radicals?
Chinese radicals are the basic building blocks of Chinese characters. They are the smallest semantic units that make up Chinese characters.
Each Chinese character is composed of one or more radicals. Radicals can be thought of as the “root” or “key” parts of a character that provide clues about the character’s meaning or pronunciation.
There are around 214 commonly used radicals in the Chinese writing system. These include:
- Radical components like 木 (wood), 水 (water), 人 (person), etc. that convey semantic information.
- Phonetic components that provide hints about the pronunciation of the character.
- Structural components that indicate the overall shape or configuration of the character.
Knowing the meanings and compositions of these basic radicals is very important for learning to read and write Chinese characters effectively. Radicals allow you to break down and analyze the structure of unfamiliar characters, which aids in character recognition and memorization.
What are Chinese radicals? Below is a video introducing Chinese radicals. The humble “radical” is the building block of many Chinese characters. The video breaks down the five main positional categories of radicals and their impact on words to help deepen your understanding of Chinese radicals.
Part2. How Many Radicals Are in Chinese?
There are around 214 commonly recognized Chinese radicals.
The exact number can vary a bit depending on how radicals are defined and categorized, but 214 is the standard number cited by most authoritative sources on the Chinese writing system.
This set of 214 radicals forms the base components that make up the tens of thousands of Chinese characters. Every Chinese character can be broken down into one or more of these fundamental radical building blocks.
Some key facts about the 214 Chinese radicals:
- They were standardized and codified over centuries of Chinese language development.
- The number 214 comes from the Kangxi dictionary, a seminal Chinese dictionary published in 1716.
- The radicals cover a wide range of semantic categories like people, animals, objects, natural phenomena, etc.
- A handful of the 214 are less common or obsolete nowadays, but are still important historically.
- Learning to recognize and understand these 214 core radicals is essential for mastering the Chinese writing system.
In summary, while the exact count may vary slightly, the 214 Chinese radicals recognized in the Kangxi system remain the fundamental building blocks that all Chinese characters are composed of. Mastering them is a crucial step in becoming proficient in reading and writing Chinese.
Wukong Chinese provides you with Basic Chinese Radicals pdf for parents to download or print for their children for free. If you want to get a detailed explanation of these radicals, you can make an appointment for a free trial class at Wukong Chinese and let a professional Wukong Chinese teacher explain it to you.
Part3. Top 214 Most Basic Chinese Radicals List for Beginners
Chinese characters are complex visual symbols that combine multiple components to convey meaning and pronunciation. At the foundation of this writing system are the Chinese radicals – the essential building blocks from which all characters are constructed.
Understanding the role and composition of these core radical elements is vital for students seeking to develop proficiency in reading, writing, and comprehending the Chinese language. Here we will provide an overview of the 214 commonly used radicals, including meaning, pronuncation, variants, examples and strokes.
By mastering the meanings, pronunciations, and structural forms of these fundamental radical components, learners can unlock the ability to analyze, remember, and correctly write Chinese characters. This knowledge lays a crucial groundwork for navigating the depth and nuance of the written Chinese language.
Let’s take a closer look at the key radicals that form the basis of the Chinese writing system.
RADICAL NUMBER | Chinese Radicals | Meaning | Pinyin | Variants | Examples | Comments | STROKES |
1 | 一 | one | yī | 一、丿、乀 | 一、丁、日、月、目 | Basic horizontal stroke | 1 |
2 | 丨 | line | gǔn | 丨、㇏、㇐ | 丨、丶、丸、讠、几 | Basic vertical stroke | 1 |
3 | 丶 | dot | diǎn | 丶、乀 | 丶、丹、乃、乡、乾 | Basic dot stroke | 1 |
4 | 丿 | slash | piě | 丿、乀、⺄ | 丿、乍、乏、乓、乜 | Basic slanted stroke | 1 |
5 | 乙 | second | yǐ | 乙、乚、乛 | 乙、了、事、云、亡 | Curving stroke, often used for “second” | 2 |
6 | 乚 | hidden | yǎn | 乚 | 乚、兆、亥、亨、享 | Enclosed stroke, represents something hidden or obscured | 2 |
7 | 乛 | slash | shù | 乛 | 乛、亠、京、亭、亮 | Slanted slash stroke, similar to radical 4 | 2 |
8 | 亅 | hook | jué | 亅 | 亅、了、事、云、亡 | Hooked stroke, often used for “right” or “to grasp” | 2 |
9 | 二 | two | èr | 二、亅 | 二、于、亏、亓、亖 | Basic stroke for the number “two” | 2 |
10 | 亠 | lid | tóu | 冖、冖、亠 | 亠、京、亭、亮、人 | Covers or caps something, like a “lid” | 2 |
11 | 人 | person | rén | 人、亻、仁 | 人、什、仁、今、介 | Represents a person or human figure | 2 |
12 | 儿 | child | ér | 儿、几 | 儿、兀、允、元、充 | Stylized representation of a child or baby | 2 |
13 | 入 | enter | rù | 入、儿 | 入、內、全、冬、兮 | Stroke that represents entering or joining | 2 |
14 | 八 | eight | bā | 八、丷 | 八、公、六、共、兴 | Basic stroke for the number “eight” | 2 |
15 | 冂 | cover | gōng | 冂、冃 | 冂、兴、兼、冒、冕 | Encompassing or covering stroke | 2 |
16 | 冖 | cover | mì | 冖、亠 | 冖、冢、冥、冬、况 | Stroke representing a cover or roof over something | 3 |
17 | 冫 | ice | bīng | 冫、亏 | 冫、况、冰、冷、冲 | Stroke representing ice or cold | 3 |
18 | 几 | table | jī | 几、刂 | 几、凡、凶、凸、凹 | Stroke representing a small table or stool | 3 |
19 | 凵 | open mouth | kǒu | 凵、几 | 凵、刚、创、则、剎 | Stroke representing an open mouth or container | 3 |
20 | 刀 | knife | dāo | 刀、刂 | 刀、分、切、刈、列 | Stroke representing a knife or sharp blade | 3 |
21 | 力 | strength | lì | 力、勹 | 力、助、办、动、劳 | Stroke representing physical strength or effort | 2 |
22 | 勹 | wrap | bāo | 勹、勹 | 勹、勺、勾、勿、匀 | Stroke representing something wrapped or enclosed | 2 |
23 | 匕 | spoon | bǐ | 匕、卜 | 匕、化、北、匚、匕 | Stroke resembling a spoon or ladle | 2 |
24 | 匚 | box | fāng | 匚、匚 | 匚、匣、匦、匪、匹 | Stroke representing a box or container | 2 |
25 | 匸 | hiding | xǐ | 匚、匸 | 匸、匹、区、医、匮 | Stroke suggesting something is hidden or obscured | 2 |
26 | 十 | ten | shí | 十、丨 | 十、千、卉、半、卓 | Basic stroke for the number “ten” | 2 |
27 | 卜 | divination | bǔ | 卜、匚 | 卜、占、卦、卯、卢 | Stroke used in ancient divination practices | 2 |
28 | 卩 | seal | jié | 卩、匕 | 卩、卷、卿、厂、厄 | Stroke representing a seal or stamp | 2 |
29 | 厂 | cliff | hàn | 厂、亠 | 厂、厅、历、厕、厘 | Stroke representing a cliff or steep embankment | 2 |
30 | 厶 | private | sī | 厶、小 | 厶、又、叉、及、友 | Stroke representing something private or secret | 2 |
31 | 又 | again | yòu | 又、乂 | 又、双、反、发、叔 | Stroke representing repetition or “again” | 2 |
32 | 杰 | hero | jié | 木 | 杰、松、枚、杠、杜 | Stroke representing a heroic or outstanding person | 4 |
33 | 木 | tree | mù | 木 | 木、本、札、李、朱 | Stroke representing a tree or wooden object | 4 |
34 | 未 | not yet | wèi | 未、末 | 未、术、末、朴、杰 | Stroke representing something that has not yet occurred | 4 |
35 | 术 | method | shù | 木 | 术、本、末、朴、杰 | Stroke representing a specialized technique or method | 4 |
36 | 本 | root | běn | 本 | 本、札、未、末、朱 | Stroke representing the root or origin of something | 4 |
37 | 未 | not yet | wèi | 未、末 | 未、术、末、朴、杰 | Stroke representing something that has not yet occurred | 4 |
38 | 札 | tag | zhá | 木 | 札、本、未、术、朱 | Stroke representing a written tag or label | 4 |
39 | 末 | end | mò | 未、末 | 未、术、本、朴、杰 | Stroke representing the end or tip of something | 4 |
40 | 朩 | incomplete | pǐn | 木 | 朩、木、本、未、朱 | Stroke representing something incomplete or unfinished | 4 |
41 | 李 | plum | lǐ | 木 | 李、松、杰、朱、来 | Stroke representing a plum tree | 5 |
42 | 林 | forest | lín | 木 | 林、杰、朱、果、柏 | Stroke representing a forest or grove of trees | 6 |
43 | 果 | fruit | guǒ | 木 | 果、木、李、枚、柑 | Stroke representing a fruit-bearing tree | 7 |
44 | 欠 | lack | qiàn | 欠、氵 | 欠、次、武、歹、歼 | Stroke representing something lacking or missing | 3 |
45 | 止 | stop | zhǐ | 止、缶 | 止、步、武、歹、歼 | Stroke representing the act of stopping or ceasing | 3 |
46 | 歹 | bad | dǎi | 歹、歪 | 歹、止、歪、歧、殊 | Stroke representing something wicked or evil | 2 |
47 | 母 | mother | mǔ | 母、毋 | 母、毋、每、每、民 | Stroke representing a mother or female figure | 4 |
48 | 比 | compare | bǐ | 比、皮 | 比、皮、系、君、布 | Stroke representing the act of comparing | 4 |
49 | 毋 | do not | wú | 母、毋 | 毋、母、每、毕、毙 | Roots that indicate negation or prohibition | 3 |
50 | 氏 | clan | shì | 氏、气 | 氏、民、气、汽、沚 | Stroke representing a clan or family name | 4 |
51 | 气 | air | qì | 气、氵 | 气、汽、泣、氅、氅 | Stroke representing air, breath, or vapor | 4 |
52 | 汁 | juice | zhī | 氵、汁 | 汁、水、沁、沂、沟 | Stroke representing liquid or juice | 4 |
53 | 水 | water | shuǐ | 水、氵 | 水、泉、污、汁、沟 | Stroke representing water or a liquid | 4 |
54 | 火 | fire | huǒ | 火、灬 | 火、炎、焚、炒、点 | Stroke representing fire or flame | 4 |
55 | 爪 | claw | zhǎo | 爪、灬 | 爪、爬、爱、爵、版 | Stroke representing an animal’s claw | 3 |
56 | 父 | father | fù | 父、爻 | 父、爸、爷、爹、爻 | Stroke representing a father or male figure | 3 |
57 | 爻 | change | yáo | 父、爻 | 爻、父、叙、爰、孖 | Stroke representing change or transformation | 3 |
58 | 片 | slice | piàn | 片、刀 | 片、版、牙、牡、牢 | Stroke representing a slice or flat piece | 3 |
59 | 牙 | tooth | yá | 牙、齒 | 牙、牖、牛、牟、牢 | Stroke representing a tooth or tusk | 3 |
60 | 牛 | ox | niú | 牛、牜 | 牛、牝、牧、牟、牡 | Stroke representing an ox, cow, or bovine | 4 |
61 | 犬 | dog | quǎn | 犬、犭 | 犬、犭、犯、状、狃 | Stroke representing a dog or canine | 4 |
62 | 犭 | dog | quǎn | 犬、犭 | 犭、犬、狂、狗、狡 | Abbreviated form of the 犬 radical | 3 |
63 | 玄 | mysterious | xuán | 玄、玉 | 玄、玉、王、玟、玥 | Stroke representing something mysterious or profound | 5 |
64 | 王 | king | wáng | 王 | 王、玉、玟、玥、珍 | Stroke representing a king or ruler | 3 |
65 | 玉 | jade | yù | 玉、王 | 玉、王、珍、珠、瑀 | Stroke representing jade or a precious stone | 4 |
66 | 瓜 | melon | guā | 瓜、缶 | 瓜、甜、甜、生、田 | Stroke representing a melon or gourd | 7 |
67 | 瓦 | tile | wǎ | 瓦、石 | 瓦、石、砖、碑、砥 | Stroke representing a roof tile or ceramic material | 5 |
68 | 甘 | sweet | gān | 甘、田 | 甘、甜、甜、生、田 | Stroke representing something sweet or pleasant | 4 |
69 | 生 | life | shēng | 生、丹 | 生、甜、用、田、申 | Stroke representing life, growth, or birth | 4 |
70 | 用 | use | yòng | 用、甲 | 用、甲、申、电、男 | Stroke representing the act of using or employing | 4 |
71 | 田 | field | tián | 田 | 田、由、申、电、男 | Stroke representing an agricultural field | 5 |
72 | 疋 | foot | pǐ | 疋、少 | 疋、疗、疾、疫、痒 | Stroke representing a foot or a piece of cloth | 3 |
73 | 疒 | sickness | nè | 疒、疋 | 疒、疐、疠、痛、瘟 | Stroke representing illness or disease | 3 |
74 | 疔 | sore | dīng | 疒、疔 | 疔、疒、疠、痛、瘟 | Stroke representing a sore or inflamed area | 4 |
75 | 癶 | foot | bō | 癶、癿 | 癶、癿、登、皮、白 | Stroke representing a foot or leg | 3 |
76 | 癿 | heart | jiā | 癶、癿 | 癶、癿、登、皮、白 | Stroke representing the heart or emotions | 5 |
77 | 白 | white | bái | 白、日 | 白、百、皂、皆、皮 | Stroke representing the color white | 4 |
78 | 皮 | skin | pí | 皮、比 | 皮、肉、皂、皆、膚 | Stroke representing skin or hide | 5 |
79 | 目 | eye | mù | 目、白 | 目、看、睛、睢、矮 | Stroke representing an eye or the sense of sight | 5 |
80 | 矛 | spear | máo | 矛、殳 | 矛、矢、矢、希、尖 | Stroke representing a spear or pike | 6 |
81 | 矢 | arrow | shǐ | 矢、殳 | 矢、矛、朝、希、尖 | Stroke representing an arrow or projectile | 4 |
82 | 石 | stone | shí | 石、厂 | 石、砖、碍、砚、磨 | Stroke representing a stone or rock | 4 |
83 | 禸 | track | lóu | 禸、禾 | 禸、禾、移、稀、竟 | Stroke representing an animal’s footprint or track | 3 |
84 | 禾 | grain | hé | 禾、木 | 禾、和、稀、稔、稻 | Stroke representing a sheaf of grain or cereal plant | 4 |
85 | 禹 | name | yǔ | 禾、禹 | 禹、禾、祝、祥、禽 | Stroke representing a specific proper name | 5 |
86 | 穴 | cave | xué | 穴、穴 | 穴、窟、空、穷、突 | Stroke representing a cave or hollow space | 4 |
87 | 立 | stand | lì | 立、立 | 立、站、竖、端、竟 | Stroke representing the act of standing or erecting | 4 |
88 | 舌 | tongue | shé | 舌、舌 | 舌、舐、舒、舛、舜 | Stroke representing the human tongue | 4 |
89 | 自 | self | zì | 自、目 | 自、臣、至、致、臼 | Stroke representing the self or one’s own | 7 |
90 | 至 | arrive | zhì | 至、至 | 至、至、致、臣、臼 | Stroke representing the act of arriving or reaching | 6 |
91 | 臼 | mortar | jiù | 臼、目 | 臼、自、至、臣、臾 | Stroke representing a mortar for grinding grain | 6 |
92 | 舟 | boat | zhōu | 舟、舟 | 舟、艇、航、艘、艇 | Stroke representing a boat or ship | 4 |
93 | 艮 | stopping | gèn | 艮、止 | 艮、良、艾、英、苛 | Stroke representing a barrier or something stopping | 4 |
94 | 色 | color | sè | 色、赤 | 色、芳、茶、芝、苏 | Stroke representing color or appearance | 7 |
95 | 艸 | grass | cǎo | 艸、艹 | 艸、苏、茶、芳、茂 | Stroke representing grass or vegetation | 3 |
96 | 艹 | grass | cǎo | 艸、艹 | 艹、花、茶、草、荣 | Abbreviated form of the 艸 radical | 2 |
97 | 虍 | tiger | hū | 虍、虎 | 虍、虎、虑、虚、虞 | Stroke representing a tiger or ferocious animal | 5 |
98 | 虎 | tiger | hǔ | 虍、虎 | 虎、号、虑、虚、虞 | Stroke representing a tiger or feline animal | 5 |
99 | 虫 | insect | chóng | 虫、虫 | 虫、蚁、蛇、蟠、蛟 | Stroke representing an insect or bug | 4 |
100 | 血 | blood | xuě | 血、血 | 血、衄、行、衡、衣 | Stroke representing blood or a bloody substance | 5 |
101 | 行 | walk | xíng | 行、彳 | 行、夂、街、衡、衣 | Stroke representing movement or the act of walking | 4 |
102 | 衤 | clothes | yī | 衤、衣 | 衤、衣、裳、裱、裸 | Abbreviated form of the 衣 radical | 3 |
103 | 衣 | clothes | yī | 衤、衣 | 衣、衫、裳、裱、裸 | Stroke representing clothing or textiles | 4 |
104 | 襾 | cover | yǎ | 見 | 見、視、覌、親、覚 | Stroke representing a covering or concealment | 5 |
105 | 見 | see | jiàn | 見、目 | 見、視、親、覌、覚 | Stroke representing the act of seeing or perceiving | 7 |
106 | 角 | horn | jiǎo | 角、穴 | 角、角、觚、觞、觥 | Stroke representing a horn or pointed projection | 4 |
107 | 言 | speech | yán | 言、讠 | 言、言、詞、話、記 | Stroke representing speech, words, or language | 5 |
108 | 谷 | valley | gǔ | 谷、禾 | 谷、谷、豆、豌、豪 | Stroke representing a valley or ravine | 7 |
109 | 豆 | bean | dòu | 豆、亠 | 豆、豌、豪、貢、貞 | Stroke representing a bean or legume | 5 |
110 | 豕 | pig | shǐ | 豕、豚 | 豕、豬、豭、豢、豬 | Stroke representing a pig or swine | 7 |
111 | 豸 | beast | zhì | 豸、豕 | 豸、龇、蛇、蜥、獂 | Stroke representing a ferocious animal or beast | 6 |
112 | 貝 | shell | bèi | 貝、目 | 貝、費、貞、財、貢 | Stroke representing a seashell or mollusk | 5 |
113 | 赤 | red | chì | 赤、色 | 赤、赭、赳、趣、趣 | Stroke representing the color red | 4 |
114 | 走 | run | zǒu | 走、足 | 走、起、赴、超、越 | Stroke representing the act of running or moving | 4 |
115 | 足 | foot | zú | 足、止 | 足、跑、跡、躍、踏 | Stroke representing a foot or the act of standing | 7 |
116 | 身 | body | shēn | 身、身 | 身、車、軍、輅、軀 | Stroke representing the human body | 7 |
117 | 車 | cart | chē | 車、辶 | 車、軍、軌、輅、輦 | Stroke representing a cart, carriage, or vehicle | 4 |
118 | 金 | metal | jīn | 金、釒 | 金、釗、釘、鈴、鉤 | Stroke representing metal or a metallic substance | 8 |
119 | 長 | long | cháng | 長、長 | 長、門、間、閑、閒 | Stroke representing length or something extended | 9 |
120 | 門 | gate | mén | 門、門 | 門、閉、開、閑、間 | Stroke representing a gate, doorway, or entrance | 4 |
121 | 阜 | mound | fù | 阜、隹 | 阜、阜、防、阮、阪 | Stroke representing a mound or hillock | 5 |
122 | 隶 | slave | lì | 隶、䜌 | – | Stroke representing a slave or subordinate | 3 |
123 | 隹 | bird | zhuī | 隹、隹 | 隹、隹、集、雋、雍 | Stroke representing a bird or fowl | 4 |
124 | 雨 | rain | yǔ | 雨、雨 | 雨、雲、雷、雰、霖 | Stroke representing rain or precipitation | 4 |
125 | 青 | blue | qīng | 青、青 | 青、青、靑、靛、靜 | Stroke representing the color blue or green | 4 |
126 | 非 | not | fēi | 非、韋 | 非、韋、韭、音、韻 | Stroke representing negation or opposition | 6 |
127 | 面 | face | miàn | 面、页 | 面、页、頁、額、顏 | Stroke representing the human face | 9 |
128 | 革 | leather | gé | 革、革 | 革、革、靳、靜、革 | Stroke representing leather or animal hide | 6 |
129 | 靑 | blue | qīng | 靑、青 | – | Variant form of the 青 radical | 5 |
130 | 音 | sound | yīn | 音、立 | 音、韻、頌、響、韻 | Stroke representing sound or a musical note | 7 |
131 | 頁 | page | yè | 頁、頁 | 頁、面、頂、顔、顥 | Stroke representing a page or leaf | 7 |
132 | 風 | wind | fēng | 風、風 | 風、颶、飄、颱、颯 | Stroke representing wind or air currents | 7 |
133 | 飛 | fly | fēi | 飛、風 | 飛、飆、飄、飆、飡 | Stroke representing the act of flying | 7 |
134 | 食 | eat | shí | 食、飠 | 食、飭、飮、飢、飡 | Stroke representing food or the act of eating | 9 |
135 | 飠 | eat | shí | 食、飠 | 食、飭、飮、飢、飡 | Abbreviated form of the 食 radical | 4 |
136 | 香 | fragrant | xiāng | 鬯、香 | 香、鄉、鄭、鄰、鑑 | Stroke representing a fragrant or aromatic scent | 7 |
137 | 马 | horse | mǎ | 馬、马 | 马、馬、駒、駝、駿 | Stroke representing a horse or equine animal | 4 |
138 | 骨 | bone | gǔ | 骨、骨 | 骨、骼、髂、髓、髏 | Stroke representing a bone or skeletal structure | 7 |
139 | 高 | tall | gāo | 高、高 | 高、髙、髙、髙、髙 | Stroke representing height or something tall | 8 |
140 | 髟 | hair | biāo | 髟、髟 | 髟、髮、髯、髭、鬆 | Stroke representing long hair or fur | 5 |
141 | 鬥 | fight | dòu | 鬥、隹 | 鬥、鬥、鬭、鬮、鬱 | Stroke representing conflict or fighting | 7 |
142 | 鬯 | sacrificial | chàng | 鬯、香 | 鬯、香、試、貌、貿 | Stroke representing a sacrificial offering | 7 |
143 | 鬲 | cauldron | gé | 鬲、隹 | 鬲、鬥、鬭、鬮、鬱 | Stroke representing an ancient cooking vessel | 8 |
144 | 鬼 | ghost | guǐ | 鬼、鬼 | 鬼、鬼、鬼、魅、魁 | Stroke representing a ghost, spirit, or supernatural being | 7 |
145 | 魚 | fish | yú | 魚、魚 | 魚、鯉、鯊、鯨、鱻 | Stroke representing a fish or aquatic creature | 9 |
146 | 鳥 | bird | niǎo | 鳥、隹 | 鳥、鵝、鵬、鵰、鶴 | Stroke representing a bird | 10 |
147 | 鹵 | salt | lú | 鹵、鹵 | 鹵、鹵、卤、卤、卤 | Stroke representing salt or salty substances | 8 |
148 | 鹿 | deer | lù | 鹿、鹿 | 鹿、麇、麋、麟、麥 | Stroke representing a deer or antlered animal | 10 |
149 | 麥 | wheat | mài | 麥、禾 | 麥、糧、麵、麼、麽 | Stroke representing wheat or cereal grains | 8 |
150 | 麻 | hemp | má | 麻、亠 | 麻、麻、蠶、蓆、蒲 | Stroke representing hemp or linen fibers | 10 |
151 | 黃 | yellow | huáng | 黃、黑 | 黃、黑、黛、黜、黟 | Stroke representing the color yellow | 11 |
152 | 黍 | millet | shǔ | 黍、黍 | 黍、黎、黑、默、黛 | Stroke representing millet or other small grains | 9 |
153 | 黑 | black | hēi | 黑、黒 | 黑、墨、黧、黽、鼎 | Stroke representing the color black | 9 |
154 | 黹 | embroidery | zhǐ | 黽、黹 | 黹、黽、鼎、鼓、鼻 | Stroke representing embroidery or needlework | 12 |
155 | 黽 | frog | mǐn | 黽、黹 | 黹、黽、鼎、鼓、鼻 | Stroke representing a frog or amphibious creature | 8 |
156 | 鼎 | cauldron | dǐng | 鼎、鬲 | – | Stroke representing an ancient cooking vessel | 10 |
157 | 鼓 | drum | gǔ | 鼓、鼓 | 鼓、鼠、鼻、鼾、齐 | Stroke representing a drum or percussive instrument | 11 |
158 | 鼠 | rat | shǔ | 鼠、鼠 | 鼠、鼠、鼠、鼠、鼠 | Stroke representing a rat or mouse | 8 |
159 | 鼻 | nose | bí | 鼻、自 | 鼻、自、臭、嗅、齅 | Stroke representing the human nose | 13 |
160 | 齊 | even | qí | 齊、齐 | – | Stroke representing uniformity or evenness | 13 |
161 | 齒 | tooth | chǐ | 齒、齿 | 齒、齒、齒、齶、齼 | Stroke representing a tooth or dentition | 12 |
162 | 龍 | dragon | lóng | 龍、龙 | 龍、龍、龍、龍、龍 | Stroke representing a dragon or mythical creature | 9 |
163 | 龜 | tortoise | guī | 龜、龟 | 龜、龜、龜、龜、龜 | Stroke representing a turtle or tortoise | 10 |
164 | 龠 | flute | yuè | 龠、竽 | 龠、龚、龟、龙、龏 | Stroke representing a musical wind instrument | 12 |
165 | 亡 | die | wáng | 亡、冂 | 亡、亡、亡、亡、亡 | Stroke representing death or the act of dying | 2 |
166 | 夭 | short-lived | yāo | 夭、大 | 夭、大、天、太、太 | Stroke representing premature death or brevity of life | 3 |
167 | 玉 | jade | yù | 玉、王 | 玉、王、玉、玉、玉 | Stroke representing the gemstone jade | 4 |
168 | 殳 | weapon | shū | 殳 | 殳、殴、毂、毕、毋 | Stroke representing a weapon or tool | 5 |
169 | 毋 | do not | wú | 母、毋 | 毋、母、每、毕、毙 | Stroke representing a negative imperative | 3 |
170 | 邑 | city | yì | 邑、阜 | 邑、郎、郡、部、那 | Stroke representing a city, town, or village | 5 |
171 | 阜 | mound | fù | 阜、隹 | 阜、阜、防、阮、阪 | Variant form of the 阜 radical | 5 |
172 | 戊 | 5th heavenly stem | wù | 戊、戈 | 戊、戉、戌、戍、戎 | Stroke representing the 5th heavenly stem | 3 |
173 | 殳 | weapon | shū | 殳、殳 | – | Variant form of the 殳 radical | 5 |
174 | 攴 | rap | pū | 攴、又 | 攴、又、叩、攵、收 | Stroke representing a striking or beating action | 3 |
175 | 斤 | axe | jīn | 斤、斤 | 斤、斧、斫、斲、斬 | Stroke representing an ax or heavy tool | 4 |
176 | 丙 | 3rd heavenly stem | bǐng | 丙、兵 | – | Stroke representing the 3rd heavenly stem | 3 |
177 | 乞 | beg | qǐ | 乞、乙 | 乞、乙、乞、乏、乖 | Stroke representing the act of begging | 3 |
178 | 井 | well | jǐng | 井、亠 | 井、亞、亞、亟、亦 | Stroke representing a well or spring | 4 |
179 | 乃 | then | nǎi | – | – | Stroke representing a conjunction or transition | 3 |
180 | 屮 | sprout | chè | 屮、土 | 屮、屯、展、屹、岳 | Stroke representing a sprouting plant | 2 |
181 | 用 | use | yòng | 用、甲 | 用、甲、申、电、男 | Stroke representing the act of using | 4 |
182 | 瓜 | melon | guā | 瓜、缶 | 瓜、甜、甜、生、田 | Stroke representing a melon or gourd | 7 |
183 | 瓦 | tile | wǎ | 瓦、石 | 瓦、石、砖、碑、砥 | Stroke representing a roof tile or ceramic | 6 |
184 | 瓦 | tile | wǎ | 瓦、石 | 瓦、石、砖、碑、砥 | Variant form of the 瓦 radical | 6 |
185 | 甘 | sweet | gān | 甘、田 | 甘、甜、甜、生、田 | Stroke representing sweetness or pleasantness | 4 |
186 | 生 | life | shēng | 生、丹 | 生、甜、用、田、申 | Stroke representing life, birth, or growth | 4 |
187 | 用 | use | yòng | 用、甲 | 用、甲、申、电、男 | Variant form of the 用 radical | 4 |
188 | 田 | field | tián | 田 | 田、由、申、电、男 | Stroke representing an agricultural field | 5 |
189 | 疋 | foot | pǐ | 疋、少 | 疋、疗、疾、疫、痒 | Stroke representing a foot or footprint | 3 |
190 | 疒 | sickness | niè | 疒、疋 | 疒、疐、疠、痛、瘟 | Stroke representing illness or disease | 5 |
191 | 癶 | movement | bō | 癶、癿 | 癶、癿、登 | Stroke representing movement or motion | 3 |
192 | 白 | white | bái | 白、日 | 白、百、皂、皆、皮 | Stroke representing the color white | 4 |
193 | 皮 | skin | pí | 皮、比 | 皮、肉、皂、皆、膚 | Stroke representing skin or hide | 5 |
194 | 皿 | dish | mǐn | 皿、盛 | 皿、盆、盈、盖、盛 | Stroke representing a container or serving dish | 6 |
195 | 目 | eye | mù | 目、白 | 目、看、睛、睢、矮 | Stroke representing the human eye | 7 |
196 | 矛 | spear | máo | 矛、殳 | 矛、矢、矢、希、尖 | Stroke representing a spear or pole-arm | 6 |
197 | 矢 | arrow | shǐ | 矢、殳 | 矢、矛、朝、希、尖 | Stroke representing an arrow or projectile | 4 |
198 | 石 | stone | shí | 石、厂 | 石、砖、碍、砚、磨 | Stroke representing a stone or rock | 4 |
199 | 示 | show | shì | 禾 | 示、礻、祭、祥、祠 | Stroke representing a display or presentation | 4 |
200 | 禾 | grain | hé | 禾、木 | 禾、和、稀、稔、稻 | Stroke representing a cereal grain plant | 5 |
201 | 禾 | grain | hé | 禾、木 | 禾、和、稀、稔、稻 | Variant form of the 禾 radical | 5 |
202 | 穴 | cave | xué | 穴、穴 | 穴、窟、空、穷、突 | Stroke representing a cave, hole, or hollow | 4 |
203 | 立 | stand | lì | 立、立 | 立、站、竖、端、竟 | Stroke representing the act of standing | 4 |
204 | 竹 | bamboo | zhú | 竹、竹 | 竹、笋、笑、笼、笪 | Stroke representing bamboo or a bamboo plant | 6 |
205 | 米 | rice | mǐ | 米、米 | 米、粒、粥、粮、粟 | Stroke representing rice or small granules | 5 |
206 | 糸 | thread | mì | 糸、系 | 糸、索、絮、絲、組 | Stroke representing thread, string, or silk | 3 |
207 | 缶 | pot | fǒu | 缶、缶 | 缶、罐、册、簿、罐 | Stroke representing a ceramic pot or vessel | 5 |
208 | 羊 | sheep | yáng | 羊、羊 | 羊、羣、美、羹、羯 | Stroke representing a sheep or goat | 7 |
209 | 羽 | feather | yǔ | 羽、羽 | 羽、翅、翅、翊、翎 | Stroke representing a feather or plume | 7 |
210 | 老 | old | lǎo | 老、老 | 老、耄、考、而、君 | Stroke representing old age or seniority | 5 |
211 | 而 | and | ér | 而、而 | 而、老、耄、耒、耳 | Stroke representing a conjunction or transition | 4 |
212 | 耂 | very old | lǎo | 耂、老 | 耂、老、耄、考、耳 | Variant form of the 老 radical | 7 |
213 | 耒 | plow | lěi | 耒、耒 | 耒、耜、耘、耕、耨 | Stroke representing a plow or agricultural tool | 5 |
214 | 耳 | ear | ěr | 耳、耳 | 耳、聞、者、聳、聽 | Stroke representing the human ear | 7 |
Part5. Why learn Chinese radicals?
![List of 214 Basic Chinese Radicals and Meanings [Free PDF] - WuKong Blog](https://wp-more.wukongedu.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image-616.png)
There are several key reasons why learning Chinese radicals is important for studying the Chinese language:
- Character recognition and learning: Radicals provide critical clues about the meaning and pronunciation of Chinese characters. Recognizing common radicals makes it much easier to break down and remember the composition of new, unfamiliar characters.
- Vocabulary building: Knowing radicals allows you to identify word families and relate new characters to ones you already know. This helps expand your vocabulary more efficiently.
- Reading comprehension: Understanding the semantic and phonetic components that make up characters gives you valuable context for deciphering the meaning of texts.
- Writing and character formation: Mastering radicals teaches you the proper stroke order and structural components needed to write Chinese characters correctly.
- Autonomy in learning: With a grasp of radicals, you become more self-sufficient in looking up and learning new characters instead of relying solely on rote memorization.
- Deeper cultural understanding: The origins and evolution of common radicals provide insight into Chinese history, philosophy, and the development of the written language.
Overall, investing time in learning Chinese radicals lays an essential foundation for developing proficiency in reading, writing, and comprehending the Chinese language. It’s a core building block that unlocks greater fluency and independence.
Summary
In summary, while learning Chinese can be a daunting challenge for overseas beginners, studying Chinese radicals can provide a solid foundation for learning Chinese characters. Mastering the 214 most common Chinese radicals, understanding their meanings, pronunciations, and variants, can greatly help learners comprehend and memorize Chinese characters. This not only improves learning efficiency but also fosters enthusiasm and interest in the Chinese language. For those who aspire to learn Chinese, this is undoubtedly a great starting point. Let’s embark on this fascinating linguistic journey together!
If you are interested in systematically learning Chinese radicals and components, we recommend you to sign up for a free trial class with WuKong Chinese. The experienced teachers at WuKong Chinese will thoroughly explain the importance of mastering Chinese radicals and guide you through learning the 214 most common ones.
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Master’s degree in Education from the University of Plymouth, UK. He has 8 years of Chinese literacy, Chinese classic words, Chinese pinyin and other Chinese enlightenment and international Chinese online teaching experience. He is proficient in Chinese and English and has served as a teacher in the K12 education system overseas for many years.