Chinese Radicals List — The Building Blocks of Every Character
Almost every Chinese character is built from a smaller set of recurring parts called radicals. Once you can spot them, characters stop looking random — you start seeing structure, meaning hints and pronunciation clues.
Updated Hunyo 2026
A radical (部首 bùshǒu) is a recurring component that characters are built from. Traditional dictionaries organise every character under one of these parts, and many radicals carry meaning: 氵hints at water, 木 at wood and trees, 心 at the heart and feelings. Learning to see radicals turns a wall of strokes into a small set of familiar pieces.
The radicals, by how many characters use them
Below are the radicals found across our character data, the most productive first, with a few example characters for each. Tap any character to explore it.
| Radical | Meaning | Examples | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 扌 | — | 才扎扑打扔托 | 153 |
| 氵 | — | 汁汉汊汗汛江 | 140 |
| 口 | bibig; classifier | 古句另叨叩只 | 137 |
| 木 | puno; kahoy | 未末本术朱朴 | 125 |
| 亻 | — | 亿什仁仅仆仇 | 106 |
| 艹 | — | 艺艾节芟芥芦 | 83 |
| 讠 | — | 计订认讥讨让 | 74 |
| ⺼ | — | 肋肌肘肚肝肠 | 59 |
| 辶 | — | 边辽达迁迅过 | 58 |
| 钅 | — | 针钉钏钓钝钢 | 57 |
| 女 | babae; anak na babae | 奴奶奸她好如 | 51 |
| 纟 | — | 红约级纪纬纯 | 51 |
| 忄 | — | 忙忤忧快忻怀 | 50 |
| 土 | lupa; alikabok | 圣在圭地场址 | 48 |
| 心 | puso; isipan | 必忌忍忒志忘 | 45 |
| 日 | araw; araw-araw | 旦旧旨早旬旱 | 44 |
| 阝 | — | 那邦邪邱邻郊 | 44 |
| 虫 | insekto; uod | 虱虹虺虼虽蚁 | 43 |
| 宀 | — | 宁它宅宇守安 | 41 |
| ⺮ | — | 竿笃笆笏笑笔 | 41 |
| 贝 | sea shell; money, currency | 负贡财责贤败 | 41 |
| 火 | apoy; sunog | 灭灯灰灶灾灿 | 33 |
| 王 | hari; monarkiya | 玎玛玩玫环现 | 33 |
| 疒 | — | 疖疟疥疫疮疯 | 32 |
| 刂 | — | 刑划列则刚创 | 30 |
| 石 | bato; lata | 矶矿码砌砍砖 | 29 |
| 目 | mata; tuklasin | 直相盹盼盾省 | 27 |
| 禾 | palay; butil | 秀私秃秉秋种 | 27 |
| 大 | malaki; malalaki | 买天太夫夭央 | 25 |
| 犭 | — | 犯犹狂狄狍狐 | 24 |
| 足 | paa; binti | 跃跌跑跟跤跨 | 24 |
| 一 | isa; iisa | 丁七万丈三上 | 23 |
| 鸟 | ibon | 鸠鸡鸦鸪鸬鸮 | 23 |
| 车 | sasakyan; sasakyan | 军斩轧轨转轭 | 22 |
| 巾 | twalya; tela | 市布帅帆师希 | 22 |
| 广 | malawak; marami | 平庄庆庇床序 | 22 |
| 马 | kabayo; piyesa sa laro | 驮驯驰驱驳驴 | 21 |
| 攵 | — | 收改攻放政故 | 20 |
| 力 | kapangyarihan; lakas | 劝办功加劣动 | 19 |
| 穴 | sulot; sulo | 究穷穹空穿突 | 19 |
| 页 | — | 顶顷项顺顽顾 | 19 |
| 山 | bundok; burol | 岁岂岔岖岛岩 | 17 |
| 彳 | — | 役彼往征径待 | 17 |
| 门 | pintuan; pagpasok | 闩闪闭问闯闲 | 17 |
| 又 | muli; panuli | 叉及友双反发 | 16 |
| 囗 | — | 囚四回因团囫 | 16 |
| 戈 | itak; halibarda | 戍戏成我戒或 | 16 |
| 饣 | — | 蚀饥饫饭饮饰 | 16 |
| 冫 | — | 习冰冲决况冷 | 15 |
| 尸 | taong kumakatawan sa pinatay; ipakita ang bagsak | 尺尼尽尾尿局 | 15 |
| 田 | parang; sakahan | 毗由甲申男甸 | 15 |
| 十 | sampung | 丧千升午半华 | 14 |
| 儿 | bata; anak na lalaki | 允元兄充兆先 | 14 |
| 灬 | — | 点烈热焉焦然 | 14 |
| 皿 | pilak; sisidlan | 盂盆盈益盏盐 | 14 |
| 雨 | ulan | 雪零雷雹雾需 | 14 |
| 子 | anak; bata | 孔孕字存孙孚 | 13 |
| 衤 | — | 补衫衲袍袖被 | 13 |
| 酉 | sampung sangay ng kapaligiran; 5-7 ng gabi | 酊酌配酒酩酬 | 13 |
| 亠 | — | 亡交亥亦产亨 | 12 |
| 礻 | — | 礼祀祈祉祖祝 | 12 |
| 米 | bigas; metro | 籴粉粒粗粘粜 | 12 |
| 丿 | — | 乃久么义之乌 | 11 |
| 厂 | pabriko; patio | 厄厅历厉压厌 | 11 |
| 羽 | feather, plume; wings | 翁翅翎翔翠翡 | 11 |
| 耳 | tainga; pamamaalam | 耶耸耻耽聂聋 | 11 |
| 人 | tao; mga taong | 今介从仑仓令 | 10 |
| 弓 | pana; yumukod | 引弗弟张弥弦 | 10 |
| 牛 | baka; bakang | 牝牡牢牧物牲 | 10 |
| 立 | tumayo; itayo | 亲竖站竞竟章 | 9 |
| 手 | kamay; taong gumagawa | 承拜拳拿挲掌 | 9 |
| 糸 | — | 系素索紧紫累 | 9 |
| 衣 | damit; sapot | 表衮衰袋裂装 | 9 |
| 二 | dalawa; 2 | 于亏云互五井 | 8 |
| 八 | walo | 公六共兴兵其 | 8 |
| 方 | parisukat; kapangyarihan | 施旁旅旋旌族 | 8 |
| 欠 | utang; kulang | 次欢欣欲欺款 | 8 |
| 走 | maglakad; magpunta | 赴赶起趁超越 | 8 |
| 曰 | — | 曲更曷曾替最 | 7 |
| 月 | buwan; buwan | 有朋服朔望朝 | 7 |
| 罒 | — | 罗罚罢罩罪置 | 7 |
| 羊 | tupa; kambing | 美羔羚羞羡群 | 7 |
| 隹 | — | 雀雄雅集雇雏 | 7 |
| 丨 | — | 个中丰串临书 | 6 |
| 丷 | — | 兰关养兼兽单 | 6 |
| 凵 | — | 凶凸凹出击凿 | 6 |
| 刀 | panalim; talim | 刃分切初剪劈 | 6 |
| 寸 | inch; small, tiny | 对导寿封射尊 | 6 |
| 户 | tahanan; pintuan | 居戾房所扁扇 | 6 |
| 殳 | — | 殴段殷殿毁毂 | 6 |
| 白 | puti; niyebe | 百皂的皆皇皎 | 6 |
| 见 | makita; makilala | 观规视觉觌觐 | 6 |
| 言 | mga salita; magsalita | 訇誉誊誓警譬 | 6 |
| 丶 | — | 丹为主丽举 | 5 |
| 冂 | — | 冈册再冒冕 | 5 |
| 冖 | — | 写农冠冤冥 | 5 |
| 几 | ilan; marami | 凡凤凭凯凳 | 5 |
| 卩 | — | 卯印即却卸 | 5 |
| 夕 | — | 外夙多夜够 | 5 |
| 廾 | — | 开异弃弄弊 | 5 |
| 彡 | — | 形彩彰影须 | 5 |
| 舌 | dila | 敌舍舒舔辞 | 5 |
| 斤 | jin; yunit ng timbang | 斥斧断斯新 | 5 |
| 止 | tigil; ipagbawal | 正此步武歪 | 5 |
| 歹 | masama; makasalanan | 死殃残殓殡 | 5 |
| 矢 | pana; pana | 知矩矬短矮 | 5 |
| 鱼 | isda; mga isda | 稣鲁鲜鳄鳞 | 5 |
| 舟 | boat, ship | 航般舱舵船 | 5 |
| 辛 | bitter; toilsome, laborious | 辜辟辨辩辫 | 5 |
| 革 | balat; kuero | 靶鞋鞍鞘鞭 | 5 |
| 骨 | buto | 骸骼髅髑髓 | 5 |
| 幺 | — | 乡幻幼幽 | 4 |
| 夂 | — | 务处备惫 | 4 |
| 勹 | — | 勾勿匀包 | 4 |
| 匸 | — | 匹区医匿 | 4 |
| 彐 | — | 寻归录灵 | 4 |
| 小 | maliit; iilan | 少尔尖尘 | 4 |
| ⺌ | — | 尚尝当辉 | 4 |
| 工 | trabaho; manggagawa | 左巧巫差 | 4 |
| 金 | ginto; kayamanan | 釜鉴錾鏊 | 4 |
| 乚 | — | 也乱乳 | 3 |
| 亅 | — | 了争事 | 3 |
| 匕 | — | 化北匙 | 3 |
| 匚 | — | 匠匣匪 | 3 |
| 厶 | — | 去参篡 | 3 |
| 士 | miyembro ng ministeriyal; mahitsurang tao | 壮声壶 | 3 |
| 干 | lumang baryante | 年并幸 | 3 |
| 文 | wika; kultura | 斋斐斑 | 3 |
| 斗 | lumaban; makipagkumpitensya | 料斜斟 | 3 |
| 水 | tubig; likido | 永泉浆 | 3 |
| 爫 | — | 爱爵觅 | 3 |
| 示 | ipakita; ibunyag | 祭禀禁 | 3 |
| 缶 | — | 缸缺罐 | 3 |
| 耒 | — | 耕耗耙 | 3 |
| 虍 | — | 虐虔虚 | 3 |
| 行 | lakad; pumunta | 街衙衡 | 3 |
| 豸 | — | 豹豺貌 | 3 |
| 里 | loob; sa loob | 重野量 | 3 |
| 鬼 | espiritu; multo | 魁魂魔 | 3 |
| 入 | pumasok; sumali | 全内 | 2 |
| ⺊ | — | 占贞 | 2 |
| 㔾 | — | 危卷 | 2 |
| 夊 | — | 复夏 | 2 |
| 巛 | — | 巡巢 | 2 |
| 巳 | anim na sangay ng kapaligiran; 9-11 ng umaga | 巴巷 | 2 |
| 廴 | — | 延建 | 2 |
| 弋 | — | 式弑 | 2 |
| ⺗ | — | 恭慕 | 2 |
| 母 | ina; lumang babae | 每毒 | 2 |
| 比 | ihambing; mas... kaysa | 毕毙 | 2 |
| 毛 | buhok; balahibo | 毫毯 | 2 |
| 氺 | — | 求泰 | 2 |
| 片 | manipis na piraso; hiwain | 版牌 | 2 |
| 犬 | aso | 状献 | 2 |
| 玉 | hecatite | 玺璧 | 2 |
| 瓜 | pakwan; kalabasa | 瓣瓤 | 2 |
| 瓦 | bubong; watts | 瓮瓶 | 2 |
| 甘 | matamis; kaligayahan | 甚甜 | 2 |
| 疋 | paa | 疏疑 | 2 |
| 禸 | — | 离禽 | 2 |
| 耂 | — | 考者 | 2 |
| 而 | at; pati na rin | 耍耐 | 2 |
| 自 | sarili; mula | 臬臭 | 2 |
| 臼 | mortar; haligi | 舀舅 | 2 |
| 舛 | — | 舜舞 | 2 |
| 覀 | — | 要覆 | 2 |
| 角 | sulok; sungay | 解触 | 2 |
| 豕 | — | 象豪 | 2 |
| 赤 | pula; kulay ng apoy | 赦赫 | 2 |
| 身 | katawan; buhay | 躲躺 | 2 |
| 非 | hindi; mali | 辈靠 | 2 |
| 釆 | — | 采释 | 2 |
| 青 | luntian; asul | 靖静 | 2 |
| 风 | hangin; balita | 飕飘 | 2 |
| 髟 | — | 鬃鬓 | 2 |
| 黍 | — | 黎黏 | 2 |
| 乙 | — | 九 | 1 |
| ⺀ | — | 冬 | 1 |
| 卜 | mangaral; sumulong | 卦 | 1 |
| 臣 | minister; ohisyal | 卧 | 1 |
| 乛 | — | 卫 | 1 |
| 丬 | — | 将 | 1 |
| 尢 | — | 就 | 1 |
| 屮 | — | 屯 | 1 |
| 己 | sarili; kapwa sariling kalagayan | 已 | 1 |
| 攴 | — | 敲 | 1 |
| 旡 | — | 既 | 1 |
| 爪 | kuko; paa hayop | 爬 | 1 |
| 父 | tatay; magulang | 爸 | 1 |
| 爻 | — | 爽 | 1 |
| 玄 | deep, profound, abstruse | 率 | 1 |
| 生 | buhay; buhay | 甥 | 1 |
| 用 | gamitin; gamitin | 甩 | 1 |
| 癶 | — | 登 | 1 |
| 皮 | balat; bunga | 皱 | 1 |
| 矛 | sibat | 矜 | 1 |
| ⺳ | — | 罕 | 1 |
| 肀 | — | 肃 | 1 |
| 聿 | — | 肆 | 1 |
| 至 | dumating; sa | 致 | 1 |
| 艮 | isa sa Walo Trigram; sinaunang Chinese compass point: 45° (hilagang-silangan) | 良 | 1 |
| 色 | kulay; hitsura | 艳 | 1 |
| 鬲 | — | 融 | 1 |
| 谷 | butil; trigo | 豁 | 1 |
| 辰 | limang sangay ng kapaligiran; 7-9 ng umaga | 辱 | 1 |
| 食 | kumain; pagkain | 餐 | 1 |
| 香 | amoy na maganda; rumuruos | 馨 | 1 |
| 鹿 | tubo; ador | 麋 | 1 |
| 黑 | itim; madilim | 默 | 1 |
| 鼠 | daga; labuyo | 鼬 | 1 |
| 龙 | dragon; imperyong | 龛 | 1 |
| 卤 | salt | 0 | |
| 川 | ilog; agos | 0 | |
| 支 | suportahan; itayo | 0 | |
| 无 | walang; hindi | 0 | |
| 氏 | pamilya (tulad ng Wang 王氏); maiden name | 0 | |
| 民 | tao; taon | 0 | |
| 气 | gas; hangin | 0 | |
| 牙 | ngipin; gatas | 0 | |
| 网 | buwan; biyahe | 0 | |
| 老 | matanda; gulang na | 0 | |
| 肉 | laman; laman | 0 | |
| 虎 | tiger; brave, fierce | 0 | |
| 血 | dugo | 0 | |
| 西 | kanluran; tagapagtaguyod | 0 | |
| 豆 | pagkain na may balat | 0 | |
| 邑 | lungsod; barangay | 0 | |
| 长 | mahabang; haba | 0 | |
| 隶 | subservient; servant | 0 | |
| 面 | mukha; balat | 0 | |
| 韦 | malambot na balat; balat | 0 | |
| 韭 | scallion, leek, chive | 0 | |
| 音 | tunog; ingay | 0 | |
| 飞 | lumipad; lumiparin | 0 | |
| 首 | ulo; pangulo | 0 | |
| 高 | mataas; mataas | 0 | |
| 麦 | trigo; hulma | 0 | |
| 麻 | lupya | 0 | |
| 黄 | dilaw; hindi angkop | 0 | |
| 鼎 | palyok na luma; kalero | 0 | |
| 鼓 | tambol; hikayatin | 0 | |
| 鼻 | ilong | 0 | |
| 齐 | pantay; magkakasama | 0 | |
| 齿 | ngipin; isaalang-alang | 0 |
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