List of kanji radicals by frequency
This is a simplified table of Japanese kanji visual components (graphemes) that does away with all the archaic forms found in the Japanese version of the Kangxi radicals.
The 214 Kanji radicals are technically classifiers as they are not always etymologically correct,[1] but since linguistics uses that word in the sense of "classifying" nouns (such as in counter words), dictionaries commonly call the kanji components radicals. As dictionaries have moved from textbooks to interactive screens, the term "radicals" seems to now be used for any kanji component used in a visual search.
Most common radicals
There are two readings for a kanji: On'yomi and Kun'yomi. On'yomi is a reading derived from the Chinese way of reading, Kun'yomi is the original Japanese reading.
The six radicals that occur the most frequently[2] (in order of frequency)[3] and occur in one quarter of the 2136 Jōyō kanji:
| Character | Stroke count | Translation | Kun | On |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 口 (くち) | 3 | mouth, opening (not to be confused with box radical 囗) | くち | コウ、 ク |
| 水/氵 (みず) | 4/3 | water | みず、 みず- | スイ |
| 木 (き) | 4 | tree | き、 こ- | ボク、 モク |
| 人/亻 (ひと) | 2 | person, human | ひと、 -り、 -と | ジン、 ニン |
| 手/扌 (て) | 4 | hand | て、 て-、 -て、 た- | シュ、 ズ |
| 心/忄/⺗ (こころ) | 4 | heart radical, spirit, mind | こころ、 -ごころ | シン |
Fourteen radicals that together with the above occur in half of Jōyō kanji:
| Character | Stroke count | Translation | Kun | On |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 言 (こと) | 7 | word, say, speech / to speak | い.う、 こと | ゲン、 ゴン |
| 日 (ひ, ニチ) | 4 | sun, day, Sunday, time, counter for days | ひ、 -び、 -か | ニチ、 ジツ |
| 糸 (いと) | 6 | silk/thread | いと | シ |
| 幺 (いとがしら) | 3 | short thread radical (a variant of ⽷) | ちいさい | ヨウ |
| 肉 (にく) | 6 | meat/organ, flesh | しし | ニク |
| 月 (つき) | 4 | moon, month, Monday, period, counter for months | つき | ゲツ、 ガツ |
| 土 (つち) | 3 | ground, soil, earth, Turkey | つち | ド、 ト |
| ⻌ (しんにょう) | 3 | go/road radical, walk, to advance (a variant of ⾡) | ||
| 艹 (艸/草/くさ) | 3 | grass/plant radical | ||
| 宀 (屋根/やね, ウ/ウ冠/うかんむり) | 3 | roof/crown radical, roof (house), shaped crown | ベン、 メン | |
| 貝 (かい) | 7 | shell, property, wealth | かい | バイ |
| 女 (おんな, ジョ) | 3 | woman / female | おんな、 め | ジョ、 ニョ、 ニョウ |
| 阝 (⻖/阜/こざと) (⻏/邑/おおざと) | 3 | wall/hill/village radical (left side); large village radical (right side) place, left village radical, country, city | こざと | |
| 金 (かね/キン) | 8 | gold/metal, mineral | かね、 かな-、 -がね | キン、 コン、 ゴン |
Thirty-two radicals that together with the above occur in three quarters of Jōyō kanji:
| Character | Stroke count | Translation | Kun | On | Variants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一 (イチ/いち) | 1 | one | ひと-、 ひと.つ | イチ、 イツ | |
| 刀/刂 (かたな, トウ) | 2 | knife, sword | かたな、 そり | トウ | 刂 (つくり) right side of the kanji |
| 十 (ジュウ, と) | 2 | ten, complete | とお、 と、 そ | ジュウ、 ジッ、 ジュッ | |
| 田 (た, デン) | 5 | rice field / rice paddy | た | デン | 田 (へん) left side of the kanji |
| 火/灬 (ひ, カ) | 4 | fire | ひ、 -び、 ほ- | カ | 火 (へん), 灬 (あし) left side of the kanji, bottom of the kanji |
| 大 (おお, ダイ) | 3 | big, very | おお-、 おお.きい、 -おお.いに | ダイ、 タイ | |
| 山 (やま, サン) | 3 | mountain | やま | サン、 セン | 山 (へん), かんむり left side of the kanji, top of kanji |
| 食 / 飠 (しょく) | 9 | eat, food, to eat | く.う、 く.らう、 た.べる、 は.む | ショク、 ジキ | 食=飠 (へん) left side of the kanji |
| 車 (くるま) | 7 | vehicle, cart, car, wheel | くるま | シャ | 車 (へん) left side of the kanji |
| 彳 (行人/ぎょうにん) | 3 | walking/going person radical , stop, linger, loiter, ,step, stride, street, to go | たたず.む | テキ | 彳 (へん), ⾏ (かまえ) left side of the kanji, enclose the kanji |
| 目 (め) | 5 | eye radical, class, look, insight, experience, care favor | め、 -め、 ま- | モク、 ボク | 目 (へん), 目 (かんむり), left side of the kanji, top of kanji |
| 雨 (あめ) | 8 | rain | あめ、 あま-、 -さめ | ウ | 雨 (かんむり) top of kanji |
| 犬 / 犭 (いぬ, ケン) | 4/3 | dog | いぬ、 いぬ- | ケン | 犭 (へん) left side of the kanji |
| 王 (おう) | 4 | king radical, rule, magnate | オウ、 -ノウ | ||
| 玉 (たま) | 5 | ball, jewel / jewelry | たま、 たま-、 -だま | ギョク | |
| 石 (いし) | 5 | stone | いし | セキ、 シャク、 コク | 石 (へん) left side of the kanji |
| 力 (ちから) | 2 | power radical, strength, strong, strain, bear up, exert | ちから | リョク、 リキ、 リイ | |
| 衣/衤 (ころも) | 6/5 | garment, clothing / clothes, dressing | ころも、 きぬ、 -ぎ | イ、 エ | 石=衤(へん) left side of the kanji |
| 弓 (ゆみ) | 3 | bow (in archery, violin) | ゆみ | キュウ | 弓(へん) left side of the kanji |
| 竹/⺮ (たけ) | 6 | bamboo | たけ | チク | ⺮ (かんむり) on the top of kanji |
| 又 (また) | 2 | again, right hand, on the other hand | また、 また-、 また.の- | ユウ | |
| ⽁ / 攵 (のぶん) | 4 | action radical, folding chair radical, strike, activity, to strike, hit | ホク | ⽁ (つくり), 攵 (つくり) on the right side of the kanji | |
| 夂 (ふゆがしら) | 3 | winter radical, to follow, late, delayed | しゅう | チ | |
| 示/礻 (しめす) | 5/4 | show on an altar radical, altar, festival, religious service, indicate, point out, express, display | しめ.す | ジ、 シ | 示=礻 (へん) the left side of the kanji |
| 酉 (とり) | 7 | bird radical, wine / alcohol, sake jar, bird, west, sign of the bird, 5-7PM, tenth sign of Chinese zodiac | とり | ユウ | 酉 (へん) left side of the kanji |
| 囗 (くに) | 3 | box, or enclosure radical (not to be confused with mouth radical 口) | イ、 コク | 囗 = (かまえ) enclose the kanji | |
| 禾 (いね) | 5 | grain radical, two-branch tree radical | いね | カ | 禾 = (へん) left side of the kanji |
| 广 (間/ま) | 3 | building / house on a cliff radical, slanting roof | ゲン | 广 = (たれ) Radicals which "hang down" | |
| 疒 (病/やまい) | 5 | sickness radical / trailing sickness radical | や.む | ダク、 ニャク、 ソウ、 ジョウ、 シツ | 疒 = (たれ) Radicals which "hang down" |
| 巾 (きん/はば) | 3 | cloth radical, towel, hanging scroll, width, | おお.い、 ちきり、 きれ | キン、 フク | 巾 (へん) left side of the kanji |
| 尸 (かたしろ, シ) | 3 | flag, corpse radical, remains | かたしろ | シ | 尸 = (たれ) Radicals which "hang down" |
| 寸 (すん) | 3 | inch (2.25 cm)/sundial, measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little, small degree radical | スン | 寸 (つくり) on the right side of the kanji |
Table of kanji radicals
Table key
Position category:
- へん (hen) - left ◧ - radical forms the left component of a kanji.
- つくり (tsukuri) - right ◨ - radical forms the right component of a kanji.
- かんむり (kanmuri) - top ⊤ - radical forms the top component of a kanji.
- あし (ashi) - bottom ⊥ - radical forms the bottom component of a kanji.
- かまえ (kamae) - wrap ⿴ - radical encloses the other kanji components.
- たれ (tare) - top-left ⿸ - radical forms the left and top components of a kanji.
- にょう (nyou) - bottom-left ⿺ - radical forms the left and bottom component of a kanji.
- Either left or right ◫ - radical can form either the left or right component of a kanji.
Notes
- This is a simplified list, so the reading of the radical is only given if the kanji is used on its own.
- Example kanji for each radical are all jōyō kanji, but some examples show all jōyō (ordered by stroke number) while others were from the Chinese radicals page with non-jōyō (and Chinese-only) characters removed.
- No radicals with more than 12 strokes are listed as they are not as common and can all be formed from the other components.
- The radicals are listed in the same basic order that the Kanji radicals are listed except for the two and three-stroke radicals which are in a more visual order.
Table
| Radical | Stroke count | Hiragana-Romaji | Meaning | Position | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一 | 1 | いち-ichi | one | 一 戸 旦 | |
| 丨 | 1 | line | 巾 引 中 甲 旧 | ||
| 丶 | 1 | てん-ten | dot | 刃 凡 丸 丹 太 犬 丼 | |
| 丿 | 1 | bend | 丈 久 才 万 丹 少 | ||
| 乙 (乚) | 1 | おつ-otsu | second, latter | 乙 乞 乏 孔 屯 札 礼 宅 乱 枕 乳 | |
| 亅 | 1 | hook | 了 丁 才 | ||
| 二 | 2 | に-ni | two | 井 仁 元 示 | |
| 亠 | 2 | lid | ⊤ | 六 玄 市 夜 京 | |
| 人 | 2 | ひと-hito | human, person | 人 欠 夫 内 囚 丙 失 肉 扶 快 決 | |
| 亻 | 2 | human, person | ◧ | 仏 化 付 代 他 仕 休 位 作 体 住 何 花 信 | |
| 𠆢 | 2 | person (人); (入; roof) | ⊤ | 介 今 合 全 会 谷 | |
| 儿 | 2 | human legs | ⊥ | 児 兄 四 見 | |
| 入 | 2 | いる-iru | enter | 入 込 | |
| 八 | 2 | はち-hachi | eight; divide | ⊤ | 八 分 公 谷 沿 松 俗 盆 翁 紛容 益 粉 浴 挙 訟 欲 船 雰 裕 鉛 溶 寡 総 嬢 |
| ハ | 2 | animal legs | ⊥ | 六 穴 呉 兵 貝 洪 唄 冥 浜 財 員 棋 貿 貸 買 賛 質 興 | |
| 丷 | 2 | grass, plant; horns | ⊤ | 平 半 羊 岡 前 首 南 | |
| 冫 | 2 | ice | ◧ | 次 冶 冷 | |
| 凵 | 2 | container, open mouth | ⊥ | 画 | |
| 匚 | 2 | box | ⿴ | 匯 | |
| 冂 | 2 | upside down box | ⿴ | 円 冊 再 同 | |
| 冖 | 2 | cover | ⊤ | 売 学 骨 常 | |
| 几 | 2 | つくえ-tsukue | desk, table | ◨ | 肌 机 |
| 九 | 2 | きゅう-kyū | nine | 枠 | |
| 力 | 2 | ちから-chikara | power, force | 男 | |
| 刀 | 2 | かたな-katana | knife, sword | 切 | |
| 刂 | 2 | knife, sword | ◨ | 割 利 前 | |
| 乃 | 2 | の-no | ⊥ | 秀 透 携 誘 /及 | |
| 勹 | 2 | wrap, embrace | ⿴ | 与 勾 匂 欠 巧 句 包 号 写 旬 朽 汚 考 均 泡 抱 拘 易 的 物 | |
| ⺈ | 2 | knife, sword | ⊤ | 危 争 色 角 免 浄 急 負 陥 逸 亀 喚 換 象 像 静 衡 艶 | |
| マ | 2 | ま-ma. | Katakana マ | ⊤ | 勇 通 湧 痛 踊 疑 凝 擬 /予 矛 |
| 匕 | 2 | さじ-saji | spoon; (七 = seven) | 七 匂 化 切 叱 北 旨 死 花 虎 背 | |
| 十 | 2 | じゅう-jū | ten, complete | 協 博 | |
| 卜 | 2 | うらない-uranai | divination | ◨ | 占 下 上 |
| 又 | 2 | また-mata | again, right hand | 友 受 | |
| 厶 | 2 | む-mu | private | 私 公 | |
| 卩 (㔾) | 2 | seal | ◨ | 厄 犯 令 危 印 服 卵 命 報 | |
| 厂 | 2 | cliff | ⿸ | 原 | |
| 广 | 3 | on a cliff | ⿸ | 序 店 府 | |
| 口 | 3 | くち-kuchi | mouth, opening | 口 古 可 名 君 否 呉 告 周 味 命 和 哲 唐 善 器 | |
| 囗 | 3 | enclosure | ⿴ | 四 回 | |
| 土 | 3 | つち-tsuchi | earth | 土 地 | |
| 士 | 3 | さむらい-samurai | scholar, bachelor | 士 声 誌 志 売 読 | |
| 夂 | 3 | go | ⊥ | 夏 | |
| 夕 | 3 | ゆうべ-yūbe | evening, sunset | 夕 外 多 夜 | |
| 尢 | 3 | 沈 枕 就 蹴 /尤 无 | |||
| 大 | 3 | だい-dai | big, very | 大 天 | |
| 女 | 3 | おんな-onna | woman, female | 女 妻 嫁 凄 好 | |
| 子 | 3 | こ-ko | child, seed | 子 好 | |
| 宀 | 3 | roof | 家 | ||
| 寸 | 3 | すん-sun | thumb, sundial degree | 時 侍 待 寺 | |
| 小 | 3 | ちいさい-chīsai | small, insignificant | 小 少 | |
| ⺌ (⺍) | 3 | small, insignificant | 当 光 鎖 巣 桜 獣 単 脳 悩 厳 | ||
| 幺 | 3 | short thread | 幻 幼 | ||
| 尸 | 3 | corpse | 尺 局 | ||
| 山 | 3 | やま-yama | mountain | 山 岡 岩 島 | |
| 川 | 3 | かわ-kawa | river | 川 州 巡 流 荒 | |
| 工 | 3 | たくみ-takumi | work | 工 左 差 | |
| 已 | 3 | おのれ-onore | oneself | (己 巳) | |
| 亡 | 3 | な・くす-nakusu | dead, gone | 亡 妄 忙 忘 盲 荒 望 慌 網 | |
| 巾 | 3 | はば-haba | turban, scarf | 市 布 帝 常 | |
| 干 | 3 | ほし-hoshi | dry | 平 年 | |
| 廾 | 3 | two hands, twenty | 弁 | ||
| 廴 | 3 | long stride | ⿺ | 延 | |
| ⻌ (辶) | 3 | walk | ⿺ | 巡 迎 通 追 逃 迎 進 | |
| 也 | 3 | ◨ | 地 池 他 施 | ||
| 弋 | 3 | ceremony, shoot, arrow | 式 | ||
| 弓 | 3 | ゆみ-yumi | bow | 弓 引 | |
| 彐 | 3 | pig snout | |||
| 彡 | 3 | hair, bristle, stubble, beard | 杉 形 参 珍 修 彫 惨 彩 診 須 髪 彰 影 膨 顔 鬱 | ||
| 彳 | 3 | step | ◧ | 役 彼 後 得 徳 | |
| 氵 | 3 | water | ◧ | 泳 決 治 海 演 漢 瀬 | |
| 丬 (爿) | 3 | split wood | ◧ | 北 壮 状 荘 背 将 装 寝 奨 | |
| 犭 | 3 | dog | ◧ | 犯 狂 狙 | |
| 扌 | 3 | hand | ◧ | 持 掛 打 批 技 抱 押 | |
| 艹 | 3 | grass, vegetation | ⊤ | 共 花 英 苦 草 茶 落 幕 靴 薬 | |
| ⻖← | 3 | mound (阝-left) | ◧ | 阪 防 阻 院 陳 | |
| →⻏ | 3 | town (阝-right) | ◨ | 那 邦 郎 部 郭 都 | |
| 忄 | 3 | heart | ◧ | 忙 快 怪 怖 性 恒 恨 悔 悟 悩 悦 惨 悼 惧 惜 情 愉 惰 慌 慄 慨 慎 憎 慢 慣 | |
| 心 | 4 | こころ-kokoro | heart | ⊥ | 心 必 芯 忍 忌 忘 志 応 泌 忠 念 怒 怠 怨 急 思 恭 恥 恐 恋 恵 恣 秘 恩 息 恋 |
| 戈 | 4 | spear, halberd | 成 式 弐 戦 | ||
| 戸 | 4 | と-to | door, house | 戸 戻 所 | |
| 手 | 4 | て-te | hand | 手 挙 | |
| 攵 | 4 | のぶん-nobunn | action, whip | 薇 | |
| 文 | 4 | ぶん-bunn | script, literature | 文 | |
| 斗 | 4 | dipper, measuring scoop | 料 | ||
| 斤 | 4 | きん-kinn | axe | 新 | |
| 方 | 4 | ほう-hō | way, square, raft | 方 放 旅 族 | |
| 日 | 4 | にち-nichi | sun, day | 日 白 百 明 的 映 時 晩 | |
| 月 | 4 | つき-tsuki | moon, month; body, flesh | 有 服 青 朝 | |
| 木 | 4 | き-ki | tree | 木 板 相 根 森 楽 機 末 本 杉 林 | |
| 欠 | 4 | けつ-ketsu | yawn, lack | 歌 欧 | |
| 止 | 4 | とめる-tomeru | stop | 止 正 歩 | |
| 歹 | 4 | death, decay | 死 列 | ||
| 殳 | 4 | るまた-rumata | weapon, lance | 役 投 殴 | |
| 毋 | 4 | do not | 毎 梅 | ||
| 比 | 4 | くらべる-kuraberu | compare, compete | 皆 昆 | |
| 毛 | 4 | け-ke | fur, hair | 毛 | |
| 氏 | 4 | うじ-uji | clan | 氏 民 紙 | |
| 气 | 4 | steam, breath | 汽 気 | ||
| 水 | 4 | みず-mizu | water | 水 永 | |
| 火 | 4 | ひ-hi | fire | 火 灯 | |
| 灬 | 4 | fire | 焦 然 煮 | ||
| ⺤ (爪) | 4 | つめ-tsume | claw, nail, talon | 爪 妥 采 乳 受 浮 将 渓 淫 彩 授 採 菜 援 揺 媛 奨 暖 愛 稲 緩 謡 穏 曖 爵 | |
| 父 | 4 | ちち-chichi | father | 釜 | |
| 牛 | 4 | うし-ushi | cow | 牛 告 牧 物 特 解 | |
| 犬 | 4 | いぬ-inu | dog | 犬 献 獣 | |
| 王 | 4 | おう-ō | king | 王 玉 主 国 弄 皇 理 差 聖 | |
| 礻 | 4 | altar, display | 礼 社 神 視 福 祖 | ||
| 耂 | 4 | old | 孝 教 者 | ||
| 勿 | 4 | do not | |||
| 五 | 4 | ご-go | five | 五 | |
| 巴 | 4 | cylinder with a trailing tail | 色 把 肥 | ||
| 元 | 4 | もと-moto | base, origin | ||
| 井 | 4 | せい-sei | well | ||
| 予 | 4 | よ-yo | beforehand, previously | 予 序 野 預 /矛 | |
| 屯 | 4 | トン-ton | 屯 純 鈍 頓 | ||
| 甘 | 5 | あまい-amai | sweet | 甘 甚 某 勘 紺 基 欺 堪 棋 媒 期 旗 謀 | |
| 生 | 5 | うまれる-umareru | life | 牲 甥 性 徃 姓 | |
| 用 | 5 | よう-yō | use | 用 | |
| 田 | 5 | た-ta | field | 田 町 思 留 略 番 | |
| 疋 | 5 | ひき-hiki | small animal; bolt of cloth | 延 | |
| 疒 | 5 | sickness | ⿸ | 病 症 痛 癖 | |
| 癶 | 5 | footsteps | 発 登 | ||
| 白 | 5 | しろ-shiro | white | 的 皆 皇 | |
| 皮 | 5 | けがわ-kegawa | skin | 披 彼 波 | |
| 皿 | 5 | さら-sara | dish | 皿 | |
| 目 | 5 | め-me | eye | 目 見 具 省 眠 眼 観 覧 | |
| 矢 | 5 | や-ya | arrow | 医 族 | |
| 石 | 5 | いし-ishi | stone | 石 岩 砂 破 碑 | |
| 示 | 5 | しめす-shimesu | altar, display | 示 奈 祭 禁 | |
| 禾 | 5 | のぎ-nogi | grain | 利 私 季 和 科 香 | |
| 穴 | 5 | あな-ana | cave | 空 突 | |
| 立 | 5 | たつ-tatsu | stand, erect | 立 音 産 翌 意 新 端 親 競 | |
| 母 | 5 | はは-haha | mother | 母 | |
| 衤 | 5 | clothes | 初 被 複 | ||
| 罒 | 5 | net | 買 罪 置 羅 | ||
| 世 | 5 | よ-yo | society, world; generation | ||
| ⺻ | 5 | brush | 津 律 建 書 庸 健 筆 鍵 | ||
| 冊 | 5 | さつ-satsu | (counting) books | 冊 柵 倫 偏 遍 論 編 輪 | |
| 而 | 6 | rake | 耐 需 端 儒 | ||
| ⺮ | 6 | たけ-take | bamboo | 竹 第 筆 竿 算 答 管 筋 等 笑 箸 | |
| 米 | 6 | こめ-kome | rice | ||
| 糸 | 6 | いと-ito | silk | 結 紙 | |
| 缶 | 6 | かん-kann | tin can | 缶 陶 鬱 | |
| 羊 | 6 | ひつじ-hitsuji | sheep | ||
| 羽 | 6 | はね-hane | feather, wing | ||
| 耳 | 6 | みみ-mimi | ear | 聞 | |
| 自 | 6 | じ-ji | self (nose=self) | ||
| 至 | 6 | いたる-itaru | arrive | ||
| 舌 | 6 | した-shita | tongue | ||
| 舟 | 6 | ふね-fune | boat | ||
| 艮 (良) | 6 | うしとら-ushitora | stopping(?); (good) | 狼 | |
| 虍 | 6 | tiger stripes | 虎 虐 虚 虜 虞 戯 膚 慮 劇 | ||
| 虫 | 6 | むし-mushi | insect | 蟻 蜂 蝶 | |
| 血 | 6 | ち-chi | blood | ||
| 行 | 6 | ぎょう-gyō | go, do | ||
| 衣 | 6 | ころも-koromo | clothes | ||
| 覀 (襾) | 6 | にし-nishi | west | 西 価 要 票 煙 腰 慄 漂 遷 標 覆 覇 | |
| 臣 | 7 | しん-shin | minister, official; slave (building a brick wall) | 姫 | |
| 見 | 7 | みる-miru | see | ||
| 角 | 7 | つの-tsuno | horn | ||
| 言 | 7 | こと-koto | speech | 読 語 記 | |
| 谷 | 7 | たに-tani | valley | ||
| 豆 | 7 | まめ-mame | bean | ||
| 豕 | 7 | いのこ-inoko | pig | 家 | |
| 貝 | 7 | かい-kai | shell | ||
| 足 | 7 | あし-ashi | foot | ||
| 身 | 7 | み-mi | body | ||
| 車 | 7 | くるま-kuruma | cart, car | ||
| 辛 | 7 | からい-karai | spicy, bitter | ||
| 辰 | 7 | たつ-tatsu | dragon; morning | ||
| 酉 | 7 | とり-tori | wine, alcohol | ||
| 里 | 7 | さと-sato | village, mile | ||
| 赤 | 7 | あか-aka | red | 赤 赦 跡 嚇 繊 | |
| 走 | 7 | そう-sō | race | 走 赴 徒 起 越 超 趣 | |
| 金 | 8 | かね-kane | metal, gold | ||
| 長 | 8 | ながい-nagai; ちょう-chyō | long, grow; leader | ||
| 門 | 8 | もん-mon | gate | 問 間 関 聞 | |
| 隹 | 8 | ふるとり-furutori | small bird | ||
| 雨 | 8 | あめ-ame | rain | 雪 電 雲 | |
| 青 | 8 | あお-ao | blue, green | ||
| 岡 | 8 | おか-oka | hill | 岡 剛 綱 鋼 | |
| 免 | 8 | めん-menn | dismissal | 免 勉 逸 晩 | |
| 斉 | 8 | せい-sei | Chinese Qi kingdom | 斉 剤 斎 済 | |
| 音 | 9 | おと-oto | sound | 意 | |
| 頁 | 9 | おおがい-ōgai | big shell | ||
| 食 | 9 | しょく-shyoku | eat, food | 飲 | |
| 首 | 9 | くび-kubi | neck, head | ||
| 品 | 9 | ひん-hin | item | ||
| 馬 | 10 | うま-uma | horse | ||
| 高 | 10 | たかい-takai | tall, high | ||
| 啇 | 11 | base, stem | 嫡 滴 摘 適 敵 | ||
| 無 | 12 | む-mu | nothing | 無 舞 |
Other combinations
Variations of this table
Many other combinations could realistically be called a simplified table of kanji radicals, here are a few examples.
- 䒑 could replace both 丷 and 艹
- ⺈ could be merged with 刀 or 勹 (not commonly used as a radical by itself)
- 聿 or 書 could be used instead of ⺻
Entries with an upside-down exclamation mark (¡) are possibly made up "radicals," meaning only one online dictionary was found to use them (Tangorin Online).
Possible additions: (Note that the examples below show all the jōyō kanji examples)
| Radical | Stroke count | Hiragana-Romaji | Meaning | Category | Examples | Reason for exclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ユ | 2 | ゆ-yu | Katakana ユ | (夬 决 刔 抉 篌) | Not used by jōyō kanji | |
| 久 | 3 | 久 畝 | ||||
| 彑 | 3 | 互 彙 | ||||
| 及 | 3 | およ・ぶ-oyobu | 及 扱 吸 級 | Search using 乃 instead | ||
| 上 | 3 | うえ-ue | above | ¡ | 上 峠 虚 寂 督 | 上 = ⿱⺊一 |
| 化 | 4 | か-ka | action suffix, -isation, -ification | ¡ | 化 花 貨 傾 靴 | 化 = ⿰亻匕 |
| 分 | 4 | ぶん-bunn | part | ¡ | 盆 紛 粉 貧 雰 貿 頒 寡 | 分 = ⿱八刀 |
| 切 | 4 | せつ-setsu | keen; sharp edge | ¡ | 切 窃 | 切 = ⿰七刀 |
| 出 | 5 | で-de | go out, send out | ¡ | 拙 屈 堀 掘 窟 | 出 = ⿱山山 |
| 付 | 5 | づけ-(d)zuke | date of origin | ¡ | 付 附 侍 府 符 腐 | 付 = ⿰亻寸 |
| 巨 | 5 | giant | 巨 拒 距 | Search using 匚 instead | ||
| 竹 | 6 | たけ-take | bamboo | 竹 | Only used for 竹 (see ⺮) | |
| 西 | 6 | にし-nishi | west | 西 | Mainly used for 西 (see 覀) | |
| 耒 | 6 | 耗 耕 業 籍 | Search using 木 instead | |||
| 肉 | 6 | にく-niku | meat | 肉 腐 | Mainly only used for 肉 | |
| 色 | 6 | いろ-iro | color, prettiness | 色 絶 艶 | 色 = ⿱⺈巴 | |
| 合 | 6 | ごう-gō | mountain climbing checkpoint | ¡ | 合 拾 搭 塔 給 答 | 合 = ⿱𠆢一⿱口 |
| 奄 | 8 | cover | 俺 | Mainly only used for 俺 | ||
| 禹 | 9 | 偶 遇 隅 愚 属 嘱 | Search using 虫 instead |
List of radicals that form common jōyō kanji and are a part of the Table of Japanese kanji radicals page but do not appear here. All jōyō kanji examples for each radical are listed.
| Radical | Strokes | Hiragana-Romaji | Meaning | Category | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 巛 | 3 | かわ-kawa | river | 巡 災 拶 | |
| 屮 | 3 | てつ-tetsu | sprout | (屯) 逆 塑 遡 | |
| 片 | 4 | かた-kata | (a) slice | 片 版 | |
| 支 | 4 | しにょう-shinyō | branch | 支 伎 岐 技 肢 枝 鼓 | |
| 禸 | 5 | ぐうのあし-gūnoashi | track | 偶 遇 隅 属 愚 璃 嘱 離 | |
| 矛 | 5 | むのほこ-munohoko | spear, halberd | 矛 柔 務 野 霧 | |
| 玄 | 5 | げん-gen | dark, profound | 玄 弦 畜 舷 率 蓄 | |
| 瓦 | 5 | かわら-kawara | tile | 瓦 瓶 | |
| 牙 | 5 | きばへん-kibahen | fang | 牙 邪 芽 既 雅 慨 概 | |
| 竹 | 6 | たけ-take | bamboo | 笑 第 等 簡 | |
| 西 | 6 | にし-nishi | west | 西 要 | |
| 色 | 6 | いろ-iro | colour, prettiness | 色 絶 艶 | |
| 瓜 | 6 | うり-uri | melon | 孤 弧 | |
| 臼 | 6 | うす-usu | mortar | 臼 毀 潟 興 | |
| 豸 | 7 | むじな-mujina | cat, badger | 貌 墾 懇 | |
| 釆 | 7 | のごめ-nogome | divide, distinguish, choose | 釈 番 審 翻 藩 | |
| 麦 | 7 | むぎ-mugi | wheat | 麦 麺 | |
| 舛 | 7 | ます-masu | opposite | 傑 舞 隣 瞬 | |
| 隶 | 8 | れいづくり-reidzukuri | slave, capture | 粛 逮 康 緑 隷 録 | |
| 非 | 8 | あらず-arazu | wrong | 非 俳 排 扉 悲 罪 輩 | |
| 面 | 9 | めん-men | face | 面 麺 | |
| 飛 | 9 | とぶ-tobu | fly | 飛 | |
| 革 | 9 | かくのかわ-kakunokawa | leather, rawhide | 革 靴 覇 | |
| 鬲 | 10 | かなえ-kanae | tripod, cauldron | 隔 融 | |
| 韋 | 10 | なめしがわ-nameshigawa | tanned leather | 偉 違 緯 衛 韓 | |
| 竜 | 10 | りゅう-ryū | dragon | 竜 滝 | |
| 骨 | 10 | ほね-hone | bone | 骨 滑 骸 髄 | |
| 鬼 | 10 | おに-oni | ghost, demon | 鬼 塊 魂 魅 醜 魔 | |
| 麻 | 11 | あさ-asa | hemp, flax | 麻 暦 歴 摩 磨 魔 | |
| 鳥 | 11 | とり-tori | bird | 島 鳥 鳴 鶏 鶴 | |
| 鹿 | 11 | しか-shika | deer | 鹿 麗 麓 | |
| 黒 | 11 | くろ-kuro | black | 黒 墨 黙 | |
| 魚 | 11 | うお-uo | fish | 魚 漁 鮮 鯨 | |
| 黄 | 11 | きいろ-kīro | yellow | 黄 横 | |
| 歯 | 12 | は-ha | tooth, molar | 歯 齢 |
Radicals ordered by frequency
With frequency considered to be the amount of kanji where the radical or its variants can be found as a visual component.[4]
- Variants of the same radical are separated by forward slashes (for example 彐/ヨ/⺕)
- The first radical on the list (口) is the most frequent and can be seen in 2,839 kanji
- The last radical on the list (斉) is the least frequent and can be seen in 5 kanji
| List of kanji radicals by frequency |
|---|
| 口, 一, 丿/ノ, 丨, 日, 木, ハ/八/丷, 二, 丶, 土, 十, 田, 艹/艸/草/䒑, 目, 亠, 冂, 大, 小/⺌/⺍, 月, 水/氵, 儿, 勹, 厶, 幺, 冖, 人/亻/𠂉/𠆢, 又, 匕, 王, 金, 手/扌, 貝, 宀, 厂, 虫, 糸, 女, 亅, 言, 止, 立, 心/忄/㣺, 山, 乙, 彐/ヨ/⺕, 尸, 廾, 卜, 夂, 戈, 冫, 禾, 隹, ⺮/竹, 火/灬, ⻌/辶, 广, 寸, 米, 攵, 凵, 几, 罒, 刀/刂/⺈, 士, 白, 囗, 石, 巾, 車, ⺤/爪, 匚, 力, 彡, 工, 皿, 夕, 衣/衤, 足, 弓, •⻏, 子, 干, 已, 豆, ⻖•, 耳, 門, 方, 馬, 卩, 彳, 斤, 頁, 雨, 比, 羽, 羊, 酉, 虍, 豕, 里, 欠, マ, 勿, 殳, 牛, 西/覀/襾, 氏, 矢, 示, 艮, 甘, 耂/老, 自, 辛, 疋, 丬/爿, 示/礻, 戸, 長, 見, 臣, 犬/犭, 用, 九, 舟, 予/矛, 而, 歹, 冊, 弋, 巴, 音, 穴, ⺻/聿/書, 食, 至, 入, 缶, 生, 角, 元, 乃, 廴, 尢, 父, 走, 辰, 世, 川, 疒, 亡, 文, 也, 母, 毋, 癶, 高, 行, 舌, 谷, 青, 身, 斗, 品, 五, 免, 屯, 皮, 赤, 井, 毛, 气, 血, 無, 首, 岡, 啇, 斉 |
The 79 Radicals
A simplification used in "The Kanji Dictionary",[5] "The Learner's Kanji Dictionary," "Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Surnames and How to Read Them", and in "Kanji & Kana."[6]
| Strokes | Radical | Variations | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 亻 | 人 𠆢 | ◧ |
| 2 | 冫 | 冫 | ◧ |
| 2 | 子 | 了 | ◧ |
| 2 | ⻖ | ◧ | |
| 2 | 卩 | ◨ | |
| 2 | 刂 | リ 刀 | ◨ |
| 2 | 力 | ◨ | |
| 2 | 又 | ◨ | |
| 2 | 冖 | ◨ | |
| 2 | 亠 | ⊤ | |
| 2 | 十 | 十 | ⊤ |
| 2 | ⺊ | 卜 | ⊤ |
| 2 | ⺈ | ⊤ | |
| 2 | 丷 | 八 ハ | ⊤ |
| 2 | 厂 | ⿴ | |
| 2 | ⻌ | 辶 廴 | ⿴ |
| 2 | 冂 | 冂 𠘨 | ⿴ |
| 2 | 𠘨 | ⿴ | |
| 2 | 匚 | ⿴ | |
| 3 | 氵 | 水 泳 氺 | ◧ |
| 3 | 土 | 土 | ◧ |
| 3 | 扌 | 手 | ◧ |
| 3 | 口 | 口 | ◧ |
| 3 | 女 | ◧ | |
| 3 | 巾 | ◧ | |
| 3 | 犭 | 犬 | ◧ |
| 3 | 彳 | ◧ | |
| 3 | 弓 | ◧ | |
| 3 | 彡 | ◨ | |
| 3 | 艹 | ⊤ | |
| 3 | 宀 | ⊤ | |
| 3 | ⺌ | 小 ⺍ | ⊤ |
| 3 | 山 | ⊤ | |
| 3 | 士 | ⊤ | |
| 3 | 广 | ⿴ | |
| 3 | 尸 | ⿴ | |
| 3 | 囗 | ⿴ | |
| 4 | 木 | ◧ | |
| 4 | 月 | ◧ | |
| 4 | 日 | ◧ | |
| 4 | 火 | 灬 | ◧ |
| 4 | 礻 | 示 | ◧ |
| 4 | 王 | 玉 | ◧ |
| 4 | 牛 | ◧ | |
| 4 | 方 | ◧ | |
| 4 | 攵 | 夂 夂 | ◨ |
| 4 | 欠 | ◨ | |
| 4 | 心 | 心 忄 ⺗ | ⊥ |
| 4 | 戸 | 戶 | ⿴ |
| 4 | 戈 | 弋 | ⿴ |
| 5 | 石 | ◧ | |
| 5 | 立 | 立 | ◧ |
| 5 | 目 | ◧ | |
| 5 | 禾 | ◧ | |
| 5 | 衤 | 衣 | ◧ |
| 5 | 田 | ⊤ | |
| 5 | 罒 | ⊤ | |
| 5 | 皿 | ⊥ | |
| 5 | 疒 | ⿴ | |
| 6 | 糸 | ◧ | |
| 6 | 米 | ◧ | |
| 6 | 舟 | ◧ | |
| 6 | 虫 | ◧ | |
| 6 | 耳 | ◧ | |
| 6 | ⺮ | 竹 | ⊤ |
| 7 | 言 | ◧ | |
| 7 | 貝 | ◧ | |
| 7 | 車 | ◧ | |
| 7 | ⻊ | 足 | ◧ |
| 7 | 酉 | ◧ | |
| 8 | 金 | ◧ | |
| 8 | 飠 | 食 飠 | ◧ |
| 8 | 隹 | ◨ | |
| 8 | ⻗ | 雨 ⻗ | ⊤ |
| 8 | 門 | 鬥 | ⿴ |
| 9 | 頁 | ◨ | |
| 10 | 馬 | ◨ | |
| 11 | 魚 | ◧ | |
| 11 | 鳥 | ◨ |
See also
References
- ^ Free Online Kanji Radical Dictionary. KanjiNetworks. Retrieved on 2015-05-12.
- ^ Introduction to Japanese kanji!. KANJI-Link. Retrieved on 2015-05-12.
- ^ Kanjidamage. Kanjidamage. Retrieved on 2015-05-12.
- ^ "RADKFILE/KRADFILE". EDRDG. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ Wolfgang Hadamitzky; Kimiko Fujie-Winter (15 April 1996). 漢字熟語字典. Tuttle Publishing. pp. 2–. ISBN 978-0-8048-2058-5.
- ^ Radical tables. Hadamitzky.de. Retrieved on 2015-05-12.
External links
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Kanji
Wikiversity has learning resources about Kanji
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Japanese phrasebook.