halberd

Origin & mnemonic

This radical originates from an oracle-bone pictograph depicting a halberd or dagger-axe (戈), an ancient Chinese weapon used in warfare. Its modern form retains the basic lines of this ancient weapon.

Mnemonic: The shape of the halberd radical (⼽) resembles a sharp pointed tip tilted to the side, evoking the form of an ancient weapon.

• 戈gē🔊

  dagger-axe

  4 strokes

• 戉yuè🔊

  variant of 鉞|钺[yue4]

  5 strokes

• 戊wù🔊

  fifth of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]

  5 strokes

• 戋jiān🔊

  narrow

  5 strokes

• 成chéng🔊

  to succeed

  HSK 2

  6 strokes

• 戏xì🔊

  variant of 戲|戏[xi4]

  HSK 5

  6 strokes

• 戌xū🔊

  11th earthly branch: 7-9 p.m., 9th solar month (8th October-6th November), year of the Dog

  6 strokes

• 戍shù🔊

  garrison

  6 strokes

• 戎róng🔊

  generic term for weapons (old)

  6 strokes