See the most useful radicals with examples.
Browse the radicals list →Common radicals with pinyin, meaning and example characters
What are chinese radicals?
A radical is a recurring component of a character. Dictionaries file characters under a radical, and many radicals also hint at meaning or sound. 妈, 好 and 姐 all contain 女, and all relate to women; 河, 海 and 洗 contain 氵 and relate to water.
Knowing radicals in chinese characters will not let you guess every meaning, but it turns a wall of strokes into a small set of familiar parts.
Which chinese character radicals to learn first
Start with about thirty frequent radicals: 人, 口, 女, 子, 心, 手, 日, 月, 木, 水, 火, 言, 金 and 门. They appear in most HSK 1 to 3 characters. Learn each with two or three example characters, then watch the stroke order animation of an example to see the radical being written.
Using radicals to look up and remember characters
To look up an unknown character in a paper dictionary, find its radical, count the remaining strokes and scan the list. To remember it, tell yourself a small story that connects the radical to the meaning. On this site you can also draw a character and let the tool identify it.
Frequently asked questions
How many radicals are there?
The traditional Kangxi list has 214, but a couple of dozen cover most beginner characters.
Do radicals always show the meaning?
They hint at meaning or category, but not always. Treat them as memory aids, not a rule.
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Common radicals with pinyin, meaning and example characters
Browse the radicals list →Explore HSK vocabulary, practise with Chinese exercises, or take a NewHSK Mock Exam.