The 人 radical (or variant form 亻) marks words related to people, traits, or human-related concepts. Examples: 你 (nǐ, you), 他 (tā, he), 休 (xiū, rest), 傻 (shǎ, silly).
Radical
Radical 人 (rén): people, personality, and human action
Radical 口 (kǒu): mouth, openings, and containers
The 口 radical typically marks words related to mouth, openings, or containers. Examples: 喝 (hē, drink), 叫 (jiào, call), 器 (qì, vessel), 口 (kǒu, mouth).
Radical 心 (xīn): emotions, moods, and thoughts
The 心 radical (or variant form 忄) marks words related to emotions, thoughts, or psychological states. Examples: 想 (xiǎng, think), 快 (kuài, happy), 怕 (pà, fear), 忙 (máng, busy).
Radical 火 (huǒ): fire, heat, and light
The 火 radical (or variant form 灬) marks words related to fire, heat, or light. Examples: 烧 (shāo, burn), 照 (zhào, illuminate), 热 (rè, hot), 灯 (dēng, lamp).
Radical 水 (shuǐ): water and liquid-related concepts
The 水 radical (or its variant form 氵) typically marks words related to water, liquids, or moisture. Examples: 河 (hé, river), 湖 (hú, lake), 泪 (lèi, tear), 海 (hǎi, sea).
Radical 木 (mù): wood, trees, and wooden objects
The 木 radical typically indicates words related to wood, trees, or objects made from wood. Examples: 树 (shù, tree), 林 (lín, forest), 桌 (zhuō, table), 椅 (yǐ, chair).
The radical 目 (mù) indicates the eye, seeing, and vision
Characters with 目 typically relate to eyes, vision, or observation. Examples: 看 (kàn, look), 眼 (yǎn, eye), 睛 (jīng, eyeball), 盲 (máng, blind). The shape 目 is a pictograph of an eye turned upright.
The radical 走 (zǒu) indicates movement, going, or travel
Characters with 走 (or variant 辶) typically relate to moving, walking, or changing position. Examples: 走 (zǒu, walk), 道 (dào, road), 过 (guò, pass), 远 (yuǎn, far). The shape suggests a figure in motion.
The radical 金 (jīn) indicates metals, gold, or precious materials
Characters with 金 (or variant 钅) typically relate to metals, gold, silver, or metal objects. Examples: 钱 (qián, money), 钉 (dīng, nail), 铁 (tiě, iron), 银 (yín, silver). 金 can also evoke 'precious' or 'durable' meanings.
The radical 女 (nǚ) indicates women, femininity, or female-related concepts
Characters with 女 typically relate to women, the female, or feminine qualities. Examples: 妈 (mā, mother), 姐 (jiě, elder sister), 妹 (mèi, younger sister), 好 (hǎo, good). This radical carries cultural and etymological weight.
The radical 足 (zú) and its side form ⻊ indicate feet, steps, and movement
Characters with 足 (or its side form ⻊) typically relate to feet, walking, or motion. Examples: 跑 (pǎo, run), 跳 (tiào, jump), 踩 (cǎi, step on), 踢 (tī, kick). The standalone word 足够 (zúgòu) also means 'enough.'
The radical 手 (shǒu) and its variant 扌 indicate hands and hand actions
Characters with 手 or 扌 typically involve hands or what you do with them. Examples: 拿 (ná, grab), 打 (dǎ, hit), 推 (tuī, push), 摔 (shuāi, throw). Think of hand movements when you see this radical.
The radical 人 (rén) and its variant 亻 refer to people and human actions
Characters with 人 or 亻 commonly relate to people or what humans do. Examples: 他 (tā, he), 你 (nǐ, you), 休 (xiū, rest), 做 (zuò, do). This is a fundamental and very common radical.
The radical 口 (kǒu) relates to the mouth, speech, and sound
Characters with 口 typically link to the mouth, speaking, eating, or sound. Examples: 吃 (chī, eat), 喝 (hē, drink), 叫 (jiào, call), 唱 (chàng, sing). The shape 口 resembles a mouth.
The radical 火 (huǒ) relates to fire, heat, and energy
Characters with 火 (or variant 灬) typically describe fire, heat, or energy. Examples: 燃 (rán, burn), 热 (rè, hot), 炒 (chǎo, stir-fry), 灯 (dēng, lamp). Watch for this radical when learning fire-related words.
The radical 心 (xīn) indicates emotions, mental states, and thinking
Characters with 心 (or its variant 忄) almost always relate to feelings, psychology, or mind. Examples: 想 (xiǎng, want), 忧 (yōu, worry), 怕 (pà, fear), 思 (sī, think). 心 originally means 'heart.'
The radical 木 (mù) means trees, wood, and wood-related objects
Characters with 木 typically relate to trees, wood, or wooden items. Examples: 树 (shù, tree), 林 (lín, forest), 板 (bǎn, board), 桌 (zhuō, table). One of the easiest radicals to remember.
The radical 水 (shuǐ) signals liquids and water-related meanings
Any character containing 水 relates to water, liquids, or moisture. Examples: 河 (hé, river), 海 (hǎi, sea), 汗 (hàn, sweat), 泪 (lèi, tear). Learning this radical helps you guess new word meanings.
Radical 米 (mǐ): rice, grain, and food
The radical 米 (mǐ = rice) marks words about grain, rice, and food: 粉 (fěn = flour), 粒 (lì = grain), 粮 (liáng = grain supply), 糖 (táng = sugar).
Radical 足 (zú): foot, walking, and movement
The radical 足 (zú = foot) marks words about feet or walking actions: 跑 (pǎo = run), 跳 (tiào = jump), 路 (lù = road), 踢 (tī = kick).
Radical 金 (jīn): metal, money, and value
The radical 金 (jīn = metal) or its variant 钅 (on the left) marks words about metals or money: 钱 (qián = money), 银 (yín = silver), 铁 (tiě = iron), 钟 (zhōng = bell).
Radical 日 (rì): sun, day, and time
The radical 日 (rì = sun/day) is used in words about time or daylight: 早 (zǎo = early), 晚 (wǎn = late), 明 (míng = bright), 时 (shí = time).
Radical 女 (nǚ): woman and feminine qualities
The radical 女 (nǚ = woman) marks words related to women or feminine qualities: 妈 (mā = mother), 妹 (mèi = younger sister), 好 (hǎo = good), 姐 (jiě = older sister).
Radical 人 (rén): people and human qualities
The radical 人 (rén = person) or its variant 亻 (on the left) marks words about people or character: 他 (tā = he), 你 (nǐ = you), 休 (xiū = rest), 仁 (rén = benevolence).
Radical 手 (shǒu): hand and hand actions
The radical 手 (shǒu = hand) or its variant 扌 (on the left) marks verbs about hand actions: 打 (dǎ = hit), 拿 (ná = hold), 推 (tuī = push), 拉 (lā = pull).
Radical 口 (kǒu): mouth, speech, and sound
The radical 口 (kǒu = mouth) appears in words about speaking, eating, or sound: 叫 (jiào = call), 吃 (chī = eat), 歌 (gē = song), 问 (wèn = ask).
Radical 心 (xīn): heart, feelings, and mind
The radical 心 (xīn = heart/mind) or its variant 忄 (on the left) marks words about emotion, character, or spirit: 想 (xiǎng = want), 快 (kuài = happy), 忙 (máng = busy).
Radical 火 (huǒ): fire, heat, and energy
The radical 火 (huǒ = fire) often shows as 灬 (four dots at the bottom). Find it in words about fire, heat, or energy: 热 (rè = hot), 烧 (shāo = burn), 灯 (dēng = lamp).
Radical 水 (shuǐ): water and all liquids
The radical 水 (shuǐ = water) often appears as 氵 (a variant on the left). It marks words about water or liquids: 河 (hé = river), 海 (hǎi = sea), 泪 (lèi = tear).
Radical 木 (mù): all about wood and trees
The radical 木 (mù = wood) appears in characters related to wood, trees, or wooden objects. Examples: 树 (shù = tree), 林 (lín = forest), 椅 (yǐ = chair), 桌 (zhuō = table).