The Chinese Radicals

radical

   
    Chinese radicals are the common components that group Chinese character together. The radicals could help people to recognize and remember Chinese characters more easily and efficiently. In this lesson, I will introduce several radicals by categories. In the future lesson, I will talk about radicals when I teach the new characters.

Nature Related Radicals

Radical
Meaning
Pinyin
Example

earth
地 (earth) 坐 (sit)
Sun
明 (bright) 时 (time)
wood
森 林 (forest)
火 (灬) fire
huǒ 烧 (burn) 热 (hot)
水 (氵) water
shuǐ 河 (river) 海 (sea)

rain
雪 (snow) 雾 (fog)


Animal Related Radicals

Radical
Meaning
Pinyin
Example

horse
骑 (ride)

fish
鲸 鱼 (whale)

bird
niǎo 鸡 (chicken)


Person Related Radicals

Radical
Meaning
Pinyin
Example
人 (亻) Person
rén 他 (he) 你 (you)

Woman
妈 (mom) 她 (she)

son
孩 (child)
Mouth
kǒu 吃 (eat) 喝 (drink)

eye
眼 (eye)

ear
ěr 聪 (acute hearing)
手 (扌) hand
shǒu 抓 (grab) 打 (hit)

foot
跑 (run) 跳 (jump)
心 (忄) heart
xīn 想 (think) 怕 (afraid)
言 (讠) speech
yán 说 (talk) 讲 (speech)
食  (饣) eat
shí 饭 (food) 饥 (hungry)
衣 (衤) cloth
裤(pants) 袜 (sock)


Chinese Radicals Video


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