Chinese Radicals


Radicals are the backbone of Chinese characters. They can help you get an idea for the meaning or pronunciation of the character. They assist you greatly when trying to learn new characters.

There are 214 radicals, but you don't need to know all of them. Here are just some of the most commonly used radicals.

草字头 (cǎo zì tóu)

Meaning: grass

  • Examples:
  • 草 (cǎo): grass
  • 花 (huā): flower
  • 茶 (chá): tea
三点水 (sān diǎn shuǐ)

Meaning: water

  • Examples:
  • 海 (hǎi): ocean
  • 河 (hé): stream
  • 流 (liú): to flow
人字旁 (rén zì páng)

Meaning: person

  • Examples:
  • 他 (tā): he, him
  • 位 (wèi): position
  • 做 (zuò): to work
提手旁 (tí shǒu páng)

Meaning: hand

  • Examples:
  • 推 (tuī): to push
  • 拉 (lā): to pull
  • 打 (dǎ): to hit
言字旁 (yán zì páng)

Meaning: speech

  • Examples:
  • 说 (shuō): to speak
  • 语 (yǔ): language
  • 讨 (tǎo): to discuss
口字旁 (kǒu zì páng)

Meaning: mouth

  • Examples:
  • 喉咙 (hóulóng): throat
  • 呢 (nē): particle, for questions
  • 听 (tīng): listen
女字旁 (nǚ zì páng)

Meaning: woman

  • Examples:
  • 妈 (mā): mother
  • 好 (hǎo): good
  • 姐 (jiě): elder sister
竖心旁 (shù xīn páng)

Meaning: heart

  • Examples:
  • 怪 (guài): strange
  • 忆 (yì): memory
  • 快 (kuài): fast
木字旁 (mù zì páng)

Meaning: wood

  • Examples:
  • 树 (shù): tree
  • 林 (lín): forest
  • 校 (xiào): school
绞丝旁 (jiǎo sī páng)

Meaning: silk

  • Examples:
  • 红 (hóng): paper
  • 纸 (zhǐ): paper
  • 线 (xiàn): line, thread
金字旁 (jīn zì páng)

Meaning: metal

  • Examples:
  • 针 (zhēn): needle
  • 钱 (qián): money
  • 钟 (zhōng): clock
日字旁 (rì zì páng)

Meaning: sun

  • Examples:
  • 时 (shí): time
  • 晚 (wǎn): night
  • 明 (míng): clear, bright