radical (chinese character)

A radical (from Latin radix, meaning "root") is a basic identifiable component of every Chinese character, namely, of the Chinese Hanzi, the Japanese Kanji, and the Korean Hanja. The name is an English translation of the characters 部首 (bshǒu in Chinese; bushu in Japanese; busu in Korean), literally meaning "partial head", where "head" means "the most important (part)". Radicals are used in Chinese dictionaries, Kanji-Japanese dictionaries, and Hanja-Korean dictionaries to order characters in sets by the number of strokes they contain. Full characters are ordered according to their initial radicals, then these are subcategorised by their total number of strokes. This principle of categorisation is exploited by everybody who must learn to write Han characters: The vast number of Chinese characters can be much more easily memorized if they are mentally decomposed into their constituent radicals.

Number of radicals

Though radicals are widely accepted as a method to categorize Chinese characters and to locate a certain character in a dictionary, there is no universal agreement about either the exact number of radicals, or the set of radicals. Not to mention which set of radicals to use for certain characters. The increased use of simplified characters makes the situation even more complicated. Fortunately, some famous dictionaries have provided us with some de facto standards. The Late Han dictionary Shuōwén Jiězì by Xǔ Shèn (d.147 AD) is the first to thoroughly describe the characters and their radicals. Xǔ Shèn attributed all characters to 540 radicals. The early dictionaries did not order the characters for each radical by the number of strokes. This ordering was introduced by the Late Ming dictionary 字彙 (published around 1615). It also reduced the number of radicals to 214. The most influential authority for radical-stroke information is the eighteenth-century Kāngxī Dictionary (1716), using the 214 radicals from 字彙. Nowadays, the 214 Kāngxī radicals remain the best known. The count of commonly used radicals, however, is probably less. The Oxford Concise English-Chinese Dictionary, for example, has 189. With the adoption of simplified characters, a lot of characters are difficult to classify under the 214 Kāngxī radicals. As a result, various modern radical sets have been introduced. None, however, are in general use. The 214 Kāngxī radicals serve as a base for various computer encoding systems. For instance, The Unicode radical-stroke charts are based on the Kāngxī radicals.

How to use radicals in dictionary

The commonly used system, known as the "radical-and-stroke-count" method, makes use of the fact that Chinese characters (total number very approximately 5,000-50,000) are assembled from some 1,000-2,000 subcomponents. Of those subcomponents a few hundred are designated as "radicals" for indexing purposes. The most commonly encountered radicals are very basic ideograms, representing simple concepts like "human (人)," "sun (日)," or "tree (木)". The steps involved in looking up a character are:

(a) identify the radical under which the character is most likely to have been indexed;

(b) find the section of the dictionary associated with that radical;

(d) find the pages listing characters under that radical that have that number of additional strokes;

(e) find the appropriate entry or experiment with different choices for steps a and c.

For example, consider the character 信 ("human" standing next to his "words" (mouth with sound)) meaning truth, faith, fidelity, sincerity, trust, confidence, reliance, or devotion. The index radical here is "human" (人) and there are 7 additional strokes in the remaining portion (言). To look this one up finds the radical for "human" in the dictionary (most dictionaries will have an index page to help with this step) and then passes through 1 additional stroke, 2 additional strokes, etc. until one finds entries for 7 additional strokes. If the radical chosen by the user matches the radical used by the dictionary compiler (not a problem in this simple example, but it can be tricky), and if both user and dictionary compiler count strokes the same way (occasionally a problem), the entry will be found. As a general rule of thumb, radicals in the left, top and surrounding portion of a character (in that order) are likely to be used as index radicals. For example, 信 is typically indexed under the left-hand radical 人 instead of the right-hand 言, and 套 is typically indexed under the top 大 instead of the bottom 長. There are, however, considerable ideosyncracies between different dictionaries. In the multi-radical method http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/jwb/wwwjdic?1R, a relatively new development enabled by computing technology, the user can select all of a character's radicals from a table and the computer will present a list of matching characters. This eliminates the guesswork of choosing the correct index radical and calculating the correct stroke count, and cuts down searching time significantly.

List of all 214 Kangxi radicals

The following is a list of the Kāngxī radicals in order of the number of strokes. Variant forms of a radical are provided together (ex. 47. 巛川) or listed in two lines if they look very different (ex. 64. 手 and 64'. 扌). Simplified forms are given after a slash (ex. 187. 馬/马). The character examples are all traditional characters. This list is such a common standard, that sometimes a reader will see a reference to the radical by number alone. For example, radical 189 means 高.

1 stroke

1. 一 (one) (yī) - 丁七万丈三
2. 丨 (line) (gǔn) - 中丰串
3. 丶 (dot) (zhǔ) - 丸丹主丼
4. 丿 (slash) (piē) - 乂乃久乍乎
5. 乙 (second) (yì) - 九乞乾
5'. 乚 - 也乳亂
6. 亅 (hook) (jué) - 了予

2 strokes

7. 二 (two) (èr) - 于五井些亞
8. 亠 (lid) (tóu) - 亡交亥京亮
9. 人 (human) (rén) - 今介从令会
9'. 亻 (standing human) - 仁仕他仙休
10. 儿 (legs) (ér) - 兄兆先光兒
11. 入 (enter) (rù) - 內全兩兪
12. 八 (eight) (bā) - 公共兵具典
13. 冂 (down box) (jiǒng) - 冉冊再冎冏
14. 冖 (cover) (mì) - 冗冠冢冤冥
15. 冫 (ice) (bīng) - 冬冰冶冷凍
16. 几 (table) (jī) - 凡凭凰凱凳
17. 凵 (open box) (qǔ) - 凶凸凹出函
18. 刀 (knife) (dāo) - 刃分切初券
18'. 刂 (standing knife) - 刈刊刑列判
19. 力 (power) (lì) - 功劣助努励
20. 勹 (wrap) (bāo) - 勺勻勾包匈
21. 匕 (spoon) (bǐ) - 北匙
22. 匚 (right open box) (fāng) - 匠匡匣匪匱
23. 匸 (hiding enclosure) (xǐ) - 匹医匼匿區
24. 十 (ten) (shí) - 千午協南博
25. 卜 (divination) (bǔ) - 卞占卡卣卦
26. 卩 (seal) (jié) - 卯印危即却
27. 厂 (cliff) (hàn) - 厄厖厘厚原
28. 厶 (private) (sī) - 厷去厽叀參
29. 又 (again) (yòu) - 叉友双取受

3 strokes

30. 口 (mouth) (kǒu) - 史名君吟味
31. 囗 (enclosure) (wéi) - 囚因困國園
32. 土 (earth) (tǔ) - 地均坊城域
33. 士 (scholar) (shì) - 壬壯壺壻壽
34. 夂 (go) (zhǐ) - 夅夆
35. 夊 (go slowly) (suī) - 夋复夎夏夔
36. 夕 (evening) (xì) - 外夘多夜夢
37. 大 (big) (dà) - 天太夫契奔
38. 女 (woman) (nǚ) - 好妊妹妻姓
39. 子 (child) (zǐ) - 孔字孝孟孫
40. 宀 (roof) (mián) - 宅宇宗官定
41. 寸 (inch) (cùn) - 寺封射尋對
42. 小 (small) (xiǎo) - 少尖尗尚尠
43. 尢 (lame) (wāng) - 尣尤尨尬就
44. 尸 (corpse) (shī) - 尺尻尾局屈
45. 屮 (sprout) (chè) - 屯屰
46. 山 (mountain) (shān) - 屹岐岳峰島
47. 巛川 (river) (chuān) - 州巟巡巢
48. 工 (work) (gōng) - 左巧巨巫差
49. 己已巳 (oneself) (jǐ) - 巴巵巷巸巽
50. 巾 (turban) (jīn) - 市布帆帝帥
51. 干 (dry) (gān) - 平幵幷幹
52. 幺 (tiny) (yāo) - 幻幼幽幾
53. 广 (dotted cliff) (yǎn) - 床底店府度
54. 廴 (long stride) (yǐn) - 延廷建廻
55. 廾 (two hands) (gǒng) - 弁异弃弄弊
56. 弋 (shoot) (yì) - 弌弍弎式弑
57. 弓 (bow) (gōng) - 引弟弦弱張
58. 彐彑 (snout) (jì) - 彔彖彘彙彝
59. 彡 (bristle) (shān) - 形彥彩彬彭
60. 彳 (step) (chì) - 役往待律徐

4 strokes

61. 心 (heart) (xīn) - 必志忘忠恭
61'. 忄 (standing heart) - 忙快怖怪悟
62. 戈 (halberd) (gē) - 戊戎成我戒
63. 戶 (door) (hù) - 房所扁扇扉
64. 手 (hand) (shǒu) - 拜拳掌掣擧
64'. 扌 (standing hand) - 打批技抱押
65. 支 (branch) (zhī) - 攱攲攳
66. 攴攵 (rap) (pū) - 改放政故敲
67. 文 (script) (wén) - 斈斌斐斑斕
68. 斗 (dipper) (dǒu) - 料斛斜斟斡
69. 斤 (axe) (jīn) - 斥斧斬新斷
70. 方 (square) (fāng) - 於施旁旅族
71. 无旡 (not) (wú) - 既旤
72. 日 (sun) (rì) - 旦旱明星春
73. 曰 (say) (yuē) - 晉曷書曹曾
74. 月 (moon) (yuè) - 朏朖期朦朧
75. 木 (tree) (mù) - 末本杉林森
76. 欠 (yawn) (qiàn) - 次欣欲歌歡
77. 止 (stop) (zhǐ) - 此步武歪歲
78. 歹歺 (death) (dǎi) - 死殉殊殘殲
79. 殳 (weapon) (shū) - 段殷殺殿毀
80. 毋母 (do not) (wú) - 每毐毑毒毓
81. 比 (compare) (bǐ) - 毕毖毘毚
82. 毛 (fur) (máo) - 毫毬毯毳氈
83. 氏 (clan) (shì) - 氐民氒氓
84. 气 (steam) (qì) - 氛氜氣氤氳
85. 水 (water) (shuǐ) - 汞泉淼漿潁
85'. 氵 (standing water) - 河泣洋海湖
85". 氺 - 求泰滕
86. 火 (fire) (huǒ) - 灼炊炎炒炙
86'. 灬 - 烈烹焦然煮
87. 爪爫 (claw) (zhuǎ) - 爬爭爯爰爲
88. 父 (father) (fù) - 爸爹爺
89. 爻 (double crosses) (yáo) - 爼爾
90. 爿丬 (bed) (qiáng) - 牀牁牂牃牆
91. 片 (slice) (piàn) - 版牋牌牒牘
92. 牙 (fang) (yá) - 牚
93. 牛 (cow) (niú) - 牧物牲特犀
94. 犬 (dog) (quǎn) - 狀猋猒獸獻
94'. 犭 (standing dog) - 犯狂狗狩狼

5 strokes

95. 玄 (profound) (xuán) - 玅玆率玈
96. 玉 (jade) (yù) - 瑩瑬瑿璧璽
96'. 王 - 珍珠現球理
97. 瓜 (melon) (guā) - 瓝瓞瓠瓢瓣
98. 瓦 (earthenware) (wǎ) - 瓮瓷甄甑甕
99. 甘 (sweet) (gān) - 甙甚甜甝甞
100. 生 (life) (shēng) - 甡產甥甦甧
101. 用 (use) (yòng) - 甩甫甬甭甯
102. 田 (field) (tián) - 男界留畦番
103. 疋 (bolt of cloth) (pǐ) - 疌疎疏疐疑
104. 疒 (sickness) - 疼疾病痛痴
105. 癶 (dotted tent) (bō) - 癷癸癹登發
106. 白 (white) (bái) - 的皆皇皎皓
107. 皮 (skin) (pí) - 皰皴皸皺皻
108. 皿 (dish) (mǐn) - 盂盆盒盛盟
109. 目 (eye) (mù) - 盲看眺眼睛
110. 矛 (halberd) (máo) - 矜矝矞矠矡
111. 矢 (arrow) (shǐ) - 矣知矩短矮
112. 石 (stone) (shí) - 砂砥砲硬磁
113. 示 (spirit) (shì) - 祟票祭禁禦
113'. 礻 (standing spirit) - 礼社祈祝神
114. 禸 (track) - 禹禺离禼禽
115. 禾 (grain) (hé) - 秋税稔稻稼
116. 穴 (cave) (xuè) - 究空穿突窃
117. 立 (stand) (lì) - 站竝章竣童

6 strokes

118. 竹 (bamboo) (zhú) - 竿笏箒算箱
119. 米 (rice) (mǐ) - 粒粗粟精糊
120. 糸 (silk) (mì) - 系紊素索紫
120'. 糹/纟 (standing silk) - 紅納紙細組
121. 缶 (jar) (fǒu) - 缸缺罅罎罐
122. 网 (net) (wǎng) - 羀
122'. 罒 - 罠罪置罰署
123. 羊 (sheep) (yáng) - 着美群義羯
124. 羽 (feather) (yǔ) - 翁翌習翔翼
125. 老 (old) (lǎo) - 耄耆耋
125'. 耂 - 考者耇
126. 而 (and) (ér) - 耍耎耏耐耑
127. 耒 (plow) (lěi) - 耕耗耘耙耡
128. 耳 (ear) (ěr) - 耽聘聰聲聽
129. 聿 (brush) (yù) - 肂肄肅肆肇
130. 肉 (meat) (ròu) - 胔胾腐臠臡
130'. 月 (standing meat) - 有肌肝肥育
131. 臣 (minister) (chén) - 臤臥臦臧臨
132. 自 (self) (zì) - 臫臬臭臮臱
133. 至 (arrive) (zhì) - 致臸臹臺臻
134. 臼 (mortar) (jiù) - 臾舁舂與興
135. 舌 (tongue) (shé) - 舍舐舒舔舕
136. 舛 (oppose) (chuǎn) - 舜舞
137. 舟 (boat) (zhōu) - 航舫般船艘
138. 艮 (stopping) (gèn) - 艱
139. 色 (color) (sè) - 艴艵艷
140. 艸 (grass) (cǎo) - 芔芻茻
140'. 艹 - 花茶草菓華
141. 虍 (tiger) (hū) - 虎虐處虞號
142. 虫 (insect) (chóng) - 蛇蛙蜜蝶蟲
143. 血 (blood) (xiě) - 衄衅衆衉衊
144. 行 (walk enclosure) (xíng) - 衒術街衝衞
145. 衣 (clothes) (yī) - 表衰袋裔裝
145'. 衤 (standing clothes) - 袂袖裸裾襟
146. 襾覀西 (west) (yà) - 覃覆覇覈覉

7 strokes

147. 見/见 (see) (jiàn) - 規視親覺覽
148. 角 (horn) (jiǎo) - 觜觝解觴觸
149. 言 (speech) (yán) - 詈誓謦警譬
149'. 訁/讠 (standing speech) - 訓記設詩話
150. 谷 (valley) (gǔ) - 谺谻谽谿豁
151. 豆 (bean) (dòu) - 豈豉豌豎豐
152. 豕 (pig) (shǐ) - 豚象豢豪豬
153. 豸 (badger) (zhì) - 豹豺貂貌貎
154. 貝/贝 (shell) (bèi) - 負財貧貨販
155. 赤 (red) (chì) - 赦赧赫赬赭
156. 走 (run) (zǒu) - 赴起超越趨
157. 足 (foot) (zú) - 距跨跪路跳
158. 身 (body) (shēn) - 躬躱躴躺軀
159. 車/车 (car) (chē) - 軌軍軒輕輸
160. 辛 (bitter) (xīn) - 辜辟辡辣辭
161. 辰 (morning) (chén) - 辱農辴
162. 辵 (walk) (chuò)
162'. 辶 - 近返述進道
163. 邑 (city) (yì) - 邫郒郶
163'. 阝 - 那邦邸郁郊
164. 酉 (wine) (yǒu) - 酋配酒酸醉
165. 釆 (distinguish) (biàn) - 采釉釋
166. 里 (village) (lǐ) - 重野量釐

8 strokes

167. 金 (metal) (jīn) - 釜鏖鏨鑾鑿
167'. 釒/钅 (standing metal) - 銀銅鋼錫鐵
168. 長/长 (long) (cháng)
168'. 镸 (standing long) - 镺镻镼镽镾
169. 門/门 (gate) (mén) - 閂閉開閏間
170. 阜 (mound) (fù)
170'. 阝 (standing mound) - 防降陰陽階
171. 隶 (slave) (lì) - 逮隸
172. 隹 (small bird) (zhuī) - 隻隼雀雄雌
173. 雨 (rain) (yǔ) - 雪雲零雷電
174. 靑青 (blue) (qīng) - 靖靘靚靛靜
175. 非 (wrong) (fēi) - 靟靠靡

9 strokes

176. 面 (face) (miàn) - 靤靦靧靨
177. 革 (leather) (gé) - 勒靴鞋鞍鞭
178. 韋/韦 (wéi) (tanned leather) - 韌韍韓韙韜
179. 韭 (leek) (jiǔ) - 韮韰韱韲
180. 音 (sound) (yīn) - 韴韶韸韻響
181. 頁/页 (face) (yè) - 頂頃頭顏類
182. 風/风 (wind) (fēng) - 颯颱颶飄飆
183. 飛/飞 (fly) (fēi) - 飜飝
184. 食 (eat) (shí) - 養餐餮饕饗
184'. 飠/饣 (standing eat) - 飢飯飽飾餃
185. 首 (head) (shǒu) - 馗馘
186. 香 (fragrant) (xiāng) - 馛馞馥馨馩

10 strokes

187. 馬/马 (horse) (mǎ) - 駐駿騎驅驛
188. 骨 (bone) (gǔ) - 骰骸髀髓體
189. 高 (tall) (gāo) - 髚髜髝髞
190. 髟 (hair) (biāo) - 髦髮髯鬆鬚
191. 鬥 (fight) (dòu) - 鬧鬨鬩鬪鬮
192. 鬯 (sacrificial wine) (chàng) - 鬱
193. 鬲 (cauldron) (lì) - 鬳鬴鬵鬷鬻
194. 鬼 (ghost) (guǐ) - 魁魂魃魅魏

11 strokes

195. 魚/鱼 (fish) (yú) - 魯鮫鮭鯉鯨
196. 鳥/鸟 (bird) (niǎo) - 鳩鳴鵝鷗鷲
197. 鹵 (alkaline) (lǔ) - 鹶鹷鹹鹺鹽
198. 鹿 (deer) (lù) - 麋麒麓麗麟
199. 麥/麦 (wheat) (mài) - 麩麪麭麰麴
200. 麻 (hemp) (má) - 麼麾黀黁黂

12 strokes

201. 黃 (yellow) (huáng) - 黆黇黉黋黌
202. 黍 (millet) (shǔ) - 黎黏黐
203. 黑 (black) (hēi) - 墨黔默黛黠
204. 黹 (needlework) (zhǐ) - 黺黻黼

13 strokes

205. 黽/黾 (amphibian) (mǐn) - 鼀鼆鼇鼈鼉
206. 鼎 (tripod) (dǐng) - 鼏鼐鼑鼒
207. 鼓 (drum) (gǔ) - 鼕鼖鼗鼘鼙
208. 鼠 (rat) (shǔ) - 鼦鼨鼬鼯鼹

14 strokes

209. 鼻 (nose) (bí) - 鼾鼿齁齅齉
210. 齊/齐/斉 (uniformly) (qí) - 齋齌齍齎齏

15 strokes

211. 齒/齿/歯 (tooth) (chǐ) - 齟齡齧齬齲

16 strokes

212. 龍竜/龙 (dragon) (lóng) - 龏龐龑龔龕
213. 龜/龟/亀 (tortoise) (guī) - 龞

17 strokes

214. 龠 (flute) (yuè) - 龡龢龣龤龥

External links

http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/radicals.html - A good detailed introduction on radicals

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