death

dǎi (dai3)

Radical no. 78 · 4 strokes (78 部首 · 4 78 bùshǒu · 4 huà)

Radical ⽍ (dǎi) — meaning: death, 4 strokes.

Origin & mnemonic

This radical originates as a pictograph depicting human bones or a corpse, embodying the concept of death and decay. It is used to form characters related to death, corpses, or mortality.

Mnemonic: The shape resembles human bones—the death radical marks all characters tied to loss and mortality.

Characters with this radical (含此部首的字 hán cǐ bùshǒu de zì)

12 characters
  • jiān

    to annihilate

    7 strokes

  • to end

    8 strokes

  • to end

    8 strokes

  • cán

    to destroy

    HSK 7

    9 strokes

  • to die

    9 strokes

  • yāng

    calamity

    9 strokes

  • tiǎn

    to exterminate

    9 strokes

  • dài

    (literary) dangerous; perilous

    9 strokes

  • shāng

    to die in childhood

    9 strokes

  • damage egg so it does not hatch

    10 strokes

  • xùn

    to be buried with the dead

    10 strokes

  • shū

    (literary) to kill; to behead; to sever; to separate; to surpass

    10 strokes

Related radicals (相关部首 xiāngguān bùshǒu)

Same stroke count or numerically adjacent in the 214-radical set.