常见的汉字部首 / Frequently-used Chinese Radical

你知道汉字的构成秘密吗？

许多部首源自象形符号：有的描绘自然万物（日、月、水），有的来自人体部位（目、手、心），还有的取材于动物形态、工具器物、居所建筑，甚至表达动作与抽象概念。

这些小小的部首不仅是笔画——它们承载着历史、文化与逻辑，让汉字成为一门活的视觉叙事系统。

Ever wondered how Chinese characters are built?

Many originate from pictographic radicals: some depict nature (sun, moon, water), others come from human body parts (eye, hand, heart). There are radicals from animals, tools, dwellings, and even those expressing actions or abstract ideas.

These tiny components are more than just Chinese strokes—they carry history, culture, and logic, making Chinese writing a living system of visual storytelling.

一、自然与元素类 (Nature & Elements)

这类部首描绘了天地、自然和基本元素。

This type of Chinese radical depicts earth, nature, and fundamental elements.

No.	Radical	Meaning	Chinese Term	English Term	Example
1	日	sun, day	日字旁 (rì zì páng)	the “sun/day” radical	明 (bright)，时 (time)
2	月	moon, month	月字旁 (yuè zì páng)	the “moon” radical	朋 (friend)，期 (period)
3	山	mountain	山字旁 (shān zì páng)	the “mountain” radical	峰 (peak)，岛 (island)
4	氵	water	三点水 (sān diǎn shuǐ)	the “water” radical	海 (sea)，河 (river)
5	火 (灬)	fire	火字旁 (huǒ zì páng) / 四点底 (sì diǎn dǐ)	the “fire” radical	炎 (flame)，热 (hot)
6	土	earth, soil	提土旁 (tí tǔ páng)	the “earth/soil” radical	地 (ground)，城 (city)
7	石	stone	石字旁 (shí zì páng)	the “stone” radical	破 (break)，研 (research)
8	气	air, steam	气字头 (qì zì tóu)	the “air/steam” radical	氧 (oxygen)，氢 (hydrogen)
9	金 (钅)	metal, gold	金字旁 (jīn zì páng)	the “metal/gold” radical	铁 (iron)，银 (silver)
10	木	tree, wood	木字旁 (mù zì páng)	the “tree/wood” radical	树 (tree)，林 (forest)
11	艹	grass, plant	草字头 (cǎo zì tóu)	the “grass/plant” radical	花 (flower)，草 (grass)
12	雨	rain	雨字头 (yǔ zì tóu)	the “rain” radical	雪 (snow)，雷 (thunder)
13	风	wind	风字旁 (fēng zì páng)	the “wind” radical	飘 (float)，飒 (soughing of wind)
14	田	field	田字旁 (tián zì páng)	the “field” radical	男 (man)，画 (draw)

二、人与人体类 (People & Body)

这类部首源自人体的各个部位。

This type of Chinese radical is derived from various parts of the human body.

No.	Radical	Meaning	Chinese Term	English Term	Example
15	亻	person	单人旁 (dān rén páng)	the “person” radical	你 (you)，们 (plural)
16	女	woman	女字旁 (nǚ zì páng)	the “woman” radical	妈 (mom)，好 (good)
17	子	child	子字旁 (zǐ zì páng)	the “child” radical	孩 (child)，学 (learn)
18	父	father	父字头 (fù zì tóu)	the “father” radical	爸 (dad)，爷 (grandpa)
19	母 (毋)	mother	母字旁 (mǔ zì páng)	the “mother” radical	每 (every)，毒 (poison)
20	口	mouth, opening	口字旁 (kǒu zì páng)	the “mouth” radical	吃 (eat)，叫 (call)
21	心 (忄, ⺗)	heart	竖心旁 (shù xīn páng)/ 心字底 (xīn zì dǐ)	the “heart” radical	想 (think)，感 (feel)
22	目	eye	目字旁 (mù zì páng)	the “eye” radical	看 (look)，眼 (eye)
23	耳	ear	耳字旁 (ěr zì páng)	the “ear”radical	听 (listen)，闻 (hear/smell)
24	手 (扌)	hand	提手旁 (tí shǒu páng)	the “hand” radical	打 (hit)，拿 (take)
25	足 (⻊)	foot	足字旁 (zú zì páng)	the “foot” radical	跑 (run)，跳 (jump)
26	肉 (月)	flesh, body part	肉月旁 (ròu yuè páng)	the “flesh” radical	腿 (leg)，脸 (face)

三、动物与生灵类 (Animals & Creatures)

这类部首来源于动物的形象。

This type of radical originates from the imagery of animals.

No.	Radical	Meaning	Chinese Term	English Term	Example
27	犭	dog, animal	反犬旁 (fǎn quǎn páng)	the “dog” radical/ the “beast” radical	狗 (dog)，猫 (cat)
28	虫	insect, reptile	虫字旁 (chóng zì páng)	the “insect” radical/ the “creature” radical	蛇 (snake)，蝴 (butterfly)
29	鸟	bird	鸟字旁 (niǎo zì páng)	the “bird” radical	鸡 (chicken)，鸭 (duck)
30	鱼	fish	鱼字旁 (yú zì páng)	the “fish” radical	鲜 (fresh)，鲤 (carp)
31	马	horse	马字旁 (mǎ zì páng)	the “horse” radical	骑 (ride)，驾 (drive)
32	牛 (牜)	cow, bovine	牛字旁/ 牜字旁 (niú zì páng)	the “cow” radical/ the “bovine” radical	物 (thing)，特 (special)

四、器物与建筑类 (Objects & Buildings)

这类部首源于人造物品、工具和居所。

This type of Chinese radical stems from human-made objects, tools, and dwellings.

No.	Radical	Meaning	Chinese Term	English Term	Example
33	宀	roof, house	宝盖头 (bǎo gài tóu)	the “roof” radical	家 (home)，安 (safe)
34	门	door, gate	门字框 (mén zì kuāng)	the “door” radical	问 (ask)，间 (between)
35	纟	silk, thread	绞丝旁 (jiǎo sī páng)	the “silk” radical / the “thread” radical	红 (red)，纸 (paper)
36	车	cart, vehicle	车字旁 (chē zì páng)	the “cart” radical / the “vehicle” radical	转 (turn)，轻 (light)
37	舟	boat	舟字旁 (zhōu zì páng)	the “boat” radical	船 (ship)，航 (navigate)
38	衣 (衤)	clothing	衣字旁/衤字旁 (yī zì páng)	the “clothing” radical	服 (clothes)，被 (quilt)
39	饣	food, eat	食字旁 (shí zì páng)	the “food” radical / the “eat” radical	饭 (meal)，饱 (full)
40	皿	dish, container	皿字底 (mǐn zì dǐ)	the “dish” radical/ the “container” radical	盆 (basin)，盒 (box)
41	刀 (刂)	knife	立刀旁 (lì dāo páng)	the “knife” radical	分 (divide)，利 (sharp)
42	弓	bow	弓字旁 (gōng zì páng)	the “bow” radical	张 (open/stretch)，弹 (bounce)
43	斤	axe, weight unit	斤字旁 (jīn zì páng)	the “axe” radical	断 (break)，斧 (axe)
44	贝	shell, money	贝字旁 (bèi zì páng)	the “shell” radical / the “money” radical	财 (wealth)，贵 (expensive)
45	王 (玉)	jade, king	王字旁 (wáng zì páng) / 斜玉旁 (xié yù páng)	the “jade” radical	玩 (play)，珠 (pearl)

五、抽象概念类 (Abstract Concepts)

这类部首表达动作、状态或抽象观念。

This type of Chinese radical expresses actions, states, or abstract concepts.

No.	Radical	Meaning	Chinese Term	English Term	Example
46	言 (讠)	speech, language	言字旁 (yán zì páng)	the “speech” radical / the “language” radical	说 (speak)，话 (words)
47	走	walk, run	走字旁 (zǒu zì páng)	the “walk” radical / the “run” radical	起 (rise)，超 (exceed)
48	辶	walk, move	走之旁 (zǒu zhī páng)	the “walk” radical / the “move” radical	过 (pass)，还 (return)
49	疒	illness	病字头 (bìng zì tóu)	the “sickness” radical / the “illness” radical	病 (sick)，痛 (pain)
50	示 (礻)	spirit, ritual	示字旁 (shì zì páng)	the “spirit” radical / the “ritual” radical	礼 (ritual)，福 (blessing)