self

(zi4)

Radical no. 132 · 6 strokes (132 部首 · 6 132 bùshǒu · 6 huà)

Radical ⾃ (zì) — meaning: self, 6 strokes.

Origin & mnemonic

The radical "self" derives from a pictograph of a human nose (with two nostrils) in oracle-bone and seal script. Over time, this image evolved into an enclosed square with a horizontal stroke in the middle, symbolizing the nose or one's own self.

Mnemonic: The box with a horizontal line through it resembles a nose with nostrils—"self" as one's own body part.

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

1 characters
  • (bound form) self; oneself

    HSK 4

    6 strokes

Related radicals (相关部首 xiāngguān bùshǒu)

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