shell

Origin & mnemonic

This radical originates from a pictograph of a seashell or oyster shell in oracle-bone and seal script, depicting the two-part hinged form of a bivalve shell.

Mnemonic: Remember the shell radical as two hinged shells closing together.

• 賏yìng🔊

  pearls or shells strung together

  14 strokes

• 赘zhuì🔊

  (bound form) superfluous

  14 strokes

• 赙fù🔊

  to contribute to funeral expenses

  14 strokes

• 卖mài🔊

  to sell

  HSK 2

  15 strokes

• 贱jiàn🔊

  inexpensive

  HSK 7

  15 strokes

• 账zhàng🔊

  account

  HSK 6

  15 strokes

• 质zhì🔊

  character

  15 strokes

• 贤xián🔊

  worthy or virtuous person

  15 strokes

• 赓gēng🔊

  (literary) to continue; to carry on

  15 strokes

• 赞zàn🔊

  variant of 讚|赞[zan4]

  16 strokes

• 赝yàn🔊

  variant of 贗|赝[yan4]

  16 strokes

• 赟yūn🔊

  good appearance

  16 strokes

• 赠zèng🔊

  to give as a present

  HSK 5

  16 strokes

• 赢yíng🔊

  to beat

  HSK 3

  17 strokes

• 购gòu🔊

  to buy

  HSK 7

  17 strokes

• 赡shàn🔊

  to support

  17 strokes

• 赜zé🔊

  mysterious

  18 strokes

• 贽zhì🔊

  gifts to superiors

  18 strokes

• 赣Gàn🔊

  variant of 贛|赣[Gan4]

  21 strokes

• 赆jìn🔊

  farewell presents

  21 strokes

• 赃zāng🔊

  stolen goods; loot; spoils

  21 strokes