Eight radicals that made characters easier
A radical is a component that often hints at a character's meaning. Learning a handful of them made new characters feel less random.
| Radical | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 氵 | water | 河 海 洗 汤 |
| 口 | mouth | 吃 喝 叫 吗 |
| 亻 | person | 你 他 们 住 |
| 女 | woman | 好 妈 姐 她 |
| 扌 | hand | 打 找 把 |
| 讠 | speech | 说 话 语 谢 |
| 艹 | grass, plants | 茶 花 菜 |
| 木 | tree, wood | 林 森 桌 椅 |
It is a hint, not a rule: 吗 has nothing to do with mouths in meaning, it is just a question particle that you say. Still, the hints help far more often than they mislead.
characters