head

shǒu (shou3)

Radical no. 185 · 9 strokes (185 部首 · 9 185 bùshǒu · 9 huà)

Radical ⾸ (shǒu) — meaning: head, 9 strokes.

Origin & mnemonic

This radical originates from a pictograph in oracle-bone script representing the human head with hair, with the upper portion symbolizing the head and the lower portion the body.

Mnemonic: This glyph resembles a head with hair on top, instantly recalling the meaning "head".

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

2 characters
  • kuí

    cheekbone

    11 strokes

  • guó

    (literary) to cut off the left ear of a slain enemy

    17 strokes

Related radicals (相关部首 xiāngguān bùshǒu)

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