Radicals
All 214 traditional radicals used in kanji composition, organized by stroke count
Understanding Radicals
Radicals (部首) are the building blocks of kanji characters. Every kanji is composed of one or more radicals that provide clues about meaning and pronunciation.
The 214 Kangxi radicals shown here are the traditional classification system used in dictionaries. Each radical has a number, stroke count, and typical position within kanji.
Tip: Learning radicals helps you recognize patterns, remember meanings, and look up unfamiliar kanji in dictionaries.
1 stroke
One
Radical #1
Reading: いち
Position: bottom
Used in: 404 kanji
Line
Radical #2
Reading: ぼう
Position: center
Used in: 230 kanji
Dot
Radical #3
Reading: てん
Position: top
Used in: 107 kanji
Slash
Radical #4
Reading: の
Position: left
Used in: 248 kanji
Second
Radical #5
Reading: おつ
Position: various
Used in: 27 kanji
Hook
Radical #6
Reading: はねぼう
Position: right
Used in: 66 kanji
2 strokes
Two
Radical #7
Reading: に
Position: bottom
Used in: 181 kanji
Lid
Radical #8
Reading: なべぶた
Position: top
Used in: 158 kanji
Person
Radical #9
Reading: ひと
Position: left
Variants: 亻
Used in: 240 kanji
Legs
Radical #10
Reading: にんにょう
Position: bottom
Used in: 88 kanji
Enter
Radical #11
Reading: いる
Position: top
Used in: 3 kanji
Eight
Radical #12
Reading: はち
Position: top
Used in: 187 kanji
Down Box
Radical #13
Reading: けいがまえ
Position: enclosure
Used in: 81 kanji
Cover
Radical #14
Reading: わかんむり
Position: top
Used in: 68 kanji
Ice
Radical #15
Reading: にすい
Position: left
Used in: 35 kanji
Table
Radical #16
Reading: きにょう
Position: bottom
Used in: 34 kanji
Open Box
Radical #17
Reading: うけばこ
Position: bottom
Used in: 26 kanji
Knife
Radical #18
Reading: かたな
Position: right
Variants: 刂
Used in: 78 kanji
Power
Radical #19
Reading: ちから
Position: right
Used in: 36 kanji
Wrap
Radical #20
Reading: つつみがまえ
Position: left
Used in: 70 kanji
Spoon
Radical #21
Reading: ひ
Position: right
Used in: 57 kanji
Right Open Box
Radical #22
Reading: はこがまえ
Position: left
Used in: 16 kanji
Hiding Enclosure
Radical #23
Reading: かくしがまえ
Position: enclosure
Used in: 9 kanji
Ten
Radical #24
Reading: じゅう
Position: various
Used in: 138 kanji
Divination
Radical #25
Reading: ぼく
Position: left
Used in: 34 kanji
Seal
Radical #26
Reading: ふしづくり
Position: right
Variants: 㔾
Used in: 30 kanji
Cliff
Radical #27
Reading: がんだれ
Position: top
Used in: 56 kanji
Private
Radical #28
Reading: む
Position: bottom
Used in: 78 kanji
Again
Radical #29
Reading: また
Position: bottom
Used in: 93 kanji
3 strokes
Mouth
Radical #30
Reading: くち
Position: various
Used in: 388 kanji
Enclosure
Radical #31
Reading: くにがまえ
Position: enclosure
Used in: 22 kanji
Earth
Radical #32
Reading: つち
Position: left
Used in: 165 kanji
Scholar
Radical #33
Reading: さむらい
Position: top
Used in: 29 kanji
Go
Radical #34
Reading: ふゆがしら
Position: bottom
Used in: 49 kanji
Go Slowly
Radical #35
Reading: すいにょう
Position: bottom
Evening
Radical #36
Reading: ゆうべ
Position: left
Used in: 22 kanji
Big
Radical #37
Reading: だい
Position: various
Used in: 104 kanji
Woman
Radical #38
Reading: おんな
Position: left
Used in: 49 kanji
Child
Radical #39
Reading: こ
Position: left
Used in: 25 kanji
Roof
Radical #40
Reading: うかんむり
Position: top
Used in: 80 kanji
Inch
Radical #41
Reading: すん
Position: right
Used in: 49 kanji
Small
Radical #42
Reading: しょう
Position: top
Used in: 167 kanji
Lame
Radical #43
Reading: だいのまげあし
Position: bottom
Variants: 尣
Used in: 5 kanji
Corpse
Radical #44
Reading: しかばね
Position: top
Used in: 61 kanji
Sprout
Radical #45
Reading: てつ
Position: top
Used in: 3 kanji
Mountain
Radical #46
Reading: やま
Position: left
Used in: 36 kanji
River
Radical #47
Reading: かわ
Position: left
Variants: 川
Used in: 12 kanji
Work
Radical #48
Reading: こう
Position: bottom
Used in: 21 kanji
Oneself
Radical #49
Reading: おのれ
Position: various
Used in: 20 kanji
Turban
Radical #50
Reading: はば
Position: left
Used in: 37 kanji
Dry
Radical #51
Reading: かん
Position: various
Used in: 20 kanji
Thread
Radical #52
Reading: いとがしら
Position: left
Used in: 88 kanji
Dotted Cliff
Radical #53
Reading: まだれ
Position: top
Used in: 38 kanji
Long Stride
Radical #54
Reading: いんにょう
Position: bottom
Used in: 9 kanji
Folded Hands
Radical #55
Reading: こまぬき
Position: bottom
Used in: 40 kanji
Shoot
Radical #56
Reading: よく
Position: various
Used in: 9 kanji
Bow
Radical #57
Reading: ゆみ
Position: left
Used in: 17 kanji
Snout
Radical #58
Reading: けいがしら
Position: top
Variants: 彑
Used in: 43 kanji
Feather
Radical #59
Reading: さんづくり
Position: right
Used in: 23 kanji
Step
Radical #60
Reading: ぎょうにんべん
Position: left
Used in: 32 kanji
4 strokes
Heart
Radical #61
Reading: こころ
Position: left/bottom
Variants: 忄, ⺗
Used in: 98 kanji
Halberd
Radical #62
Reading: ほこ
Position: right
Used in: 48 kanji
Door
Radical #63
Reading: と
Position: left
Variants: 戸
Used in: 15 kanji
Hand
Radical #64
Reading: て
Position: left
Variants: 扌
Used in: 105 kanji
Branch
Radical #65
Reading: し
Position: various
Used in: 7 kanji
Rap
Radical #66
Reading: ぼくにょう
Position: right
Variants: 攵
Used in: 46 kanji
Literature
Radical #67
Reading: ぶん
Position: bottom
Used in: 9 kanji
Dipper
Radical #68
Reading: とます
Position: right
Used in: 6 kanji
Axe
Radical #69
Reading: おの
Position: right
Used in: 30 kanji
Square
Radical #70
Reading: ほう
Position: right
Used in: 32 kanji
Not
Radical #71
Reading: なし
Position: top
Used in: 2 kanji
Sun
Radical #72
Reading: ひ
Position: left
Used in: 212 kanji
Say
Radical #73
Reading: いわく
Position: top
Moon
Radical #74
Reading: つき
Position: left
Used in: 7 kanji
Tree
Radical #75
Reading: き
Position: left
Used in: 168 kanji
Lack
Radical #76
Reading: あくび
Position: right
Used in: 21 kanji
Stop
Radical #77
Reading: とめる
Position: left
Used in: 42 kanji
Death
Radical #78
Reading: がつへん
Position: left
Variants: 歺
Used in: 9 kanji
Weapon
Radical #79
Reading: ほこづくり
Position: right
Used in: 18 kanji
Do Not
Radical #80
Reading: はは
Position: various
Variants: 母
Used in: 11 kanji
Compare
Radical #81
Reading: ひ
Position: left
Used in: 12 kanji
Fur
Radical #82
Reading: け
Position: bottom
Used in: 3 kanji
Clan
Radical #83
Reading: うじ
Position: bottom
Used in: 9 kanji
Steam
Radical #84
Reading: きがまえ
Position: top
Used in: 2 kanji
Water
Radical #85
Reading: みず
Position: left
Variants: 氵
Used in: 145 kanji
Fire
Radical #86
Reading: ひ
Position: left/bottom
Variants: 灬
Used in: 66 kanji
Claw
Radical #87
Reading: つめ
Position: top
Variants: 爫
Used in: 30 kanji
Father
Radical #88
Reading: ちち
Position: left
Used in: 11 kanji
Double X
Radical #89
Reading: こう
Position: bottom
Used in: 1 kanji
Split Wood
Radical #90
Reading: しょうへん
Position: left
Variants: 丬
Used in: 12 kanji
Slice
Radical #91
Reading: かた
Position: left
Used in: 3 kanji
Fang
Radical #92
Reading: きば
Position: left
Used in: 7 kanji
Cow
Radical #93
Reading: うし
Position: left
Variants: 牜
Used in: 16 kanji
Dog
Radical #94
Reading: いぬ
Position: left
Variants: 犭
Used in: 24 kanji
5 strokes
Profound
Radical #95
Reading: げん
Position: top
Used in: 6 kanji
Jade
Radical #96
Reading: たま
Position: left
Variants: 王
Used in: 79 kanji
Melon
Radical #97
Reading: うり
Position: bottom
Used in: 4 kanji
Tile
Radical #98
Reading: かわら
Position: right
Used in: 2 kanji
Sweet
Radical #99
Reading: あまい
Position: top
Used in: 14 kanji
Life
Radical #100
Reading: いきる
Position: top
Used in: 10 kanji
Use
Radical #101
Reading: もちいる
Position: enclosure
Used in: 14 kanji
Field
Radical #102
Reading: た
Position: left
Used in: 123 kanji
Bolt Of Cloth
Radical #103
Reading: ひき
Position: bottom
Used in: 15 kanji
Sickness
Radical #104
Reading: やまいだれ
Position: top
Used in: 17 kanji
Dotted Tent
Radical #105
Reading: はつがしら
Position: top
Used in: 10 kanji
White
Radical #106
Reading: しろ
Position: left
Used in: 31 kanji
Skin
Radical #107
Reading: かわ
Position: right
Used in: 8 kanji
Dish
Radical #108
Reading: さら
Position: bottom
Used in: 19 kanji
Eye
Radical #109
Reading: め
Position: left
Used in: 139 kanji
Spear
Radical #110
Reading: ほこ
Position: left
Used in: 5 kanji
Arrow
Radical #111
Reading: や
Position: left
Used in: 22 kanji
Stone
Radical #112
Reading: いし
Position: left
Used in: 20 kanji
Spirit
Radical #113
Reading: しめす
Position: left
Variants: 礻
Used in: 34 kanji
Track
Radical #114
Reading: ぐうのあし
Position: left
Used in: 10 kanji
Grain
Radical #115
Reading: のぎ
Position: left
Used in: 41 kanji
Cave
Radical #116
Reading: あな
Position: top
Used in: 14 kanji
Stand
Radical #117
Reading: たつ
Position: bottom
Used in: 67 kanji
6 strokes
Bamboo
Radical #118
Reading: たけ
Position: top
Variants: ⺮
Used in: 25 kanji
Rice
Radical #119
Reading: こめ
Position: left
Used in: 30 kanji
Silk
Radical #120
Reading: いと
Position: left
Variants: 糹
Used in: 71 kanji
Jar
Radical #121
Reading: ほとぎ
Position: left
Used in: 3 kanji
Net
Radical #122
Reading: あみがしら
Position: top
Variants: 罒, 罓
Used in: 22 kanji
Sheep
Radical #123
Reading: ひつじ
Position: bottom
Variants: ⺶, ⺷
Used in: 26 kanji
Feather
Radical #124
Reading: はね
Position: left
Used in: 7 kanji
Old
Radical #125
Reading: おいかんむり
Position: top
Variants: 耂
Used in: 17 kanji
And
Radical #126
Reading: しこうして
Position: left
Used in: 5 kanji
Plow
Radical #127
Reading: らいすき
Position: left
Used in: 4 kanji
Ear
Radical #128
Reading: みみ
Position: left
Used in: 14 kanji
Brush
Radical #129
Reading: ふでづくり
Position: bottom
Variants: 肀
Used in: 8 kanji
Meat
Radical #130
Reading: にく
Position: left
Variants: ⺼
Used in: 99 kanji
Minister
Radical #131
Reading: しん
Position: left
Used in: 15 kanji
Self
Radical #132
Reading: みずから
Position: top
Used in: 15 kanji
Arrive
Radical #133
Reading: いたる
Position: top
Used in: 13 kanji
Mortar
Radical #134
Reading: うす
Position: left
Used in: 4 kanji
Tongue
Radical #135
Reading: した
Position: top
Used in: 12 kanji
Oppose
Radical #136
Reading: ます
Position: bottom
Used in: 7 kanji
Boat
Radical #137
Reading: ふね
Position: left
Used in: 10 kanji
Stopping
Radical #138
Reading: こん
Position: left
Used in: 25 kanji
Color
Radical #139
Reading: いろ
Position: top
Used in: 3 kanji
Grass
Radical #140
Reading: くさ
Position: top
Variants: 艹
Used in: 221 kanji
Tiger
Radical #141
Reading: とらかんむり
Position: top
Used in: 10 kanji
Insect
Radical #142
Reading: むし
Position: left
Used in: 17 kanji
Blood
Radical #143
Reading: ち
Position: top
Used in: 2 kanji
Go
Radical #144
Reading: いく
Position: left
Used in: 7 kanji
Clothes
Radical #145
Reading: ころも
Position: left
Variants: 衤
Used in: 48 kanji
Cover
Radical #146
Reading: にし
Position: top
Variants: 西
Used in: 13 kanji
7 strokes
See
Radical #147
Reading: みる
Position: right
Used in: 9 kanji
Horn
Radical #148
Reading: つの
Position: left
Used in: 3 kanji
Speech
Radical #149
Reading: ことば
Position: left
Variants: 訁
Used in: 73 kanji
Valley
Radical #150
Reading: たに
Position: left
Used in: 7 kanji
Bean
Radical #151
Reading: まめ
Position: left
Used in: 13 kanji
Pig
Radical #152
Reading: いのこ
Position: bottom
Used in: 14 kanji
Badger
Radical #153
Reading: むじな
Position: left
Used in: 5 kanji
Shell
Radical #154
Reading: かい
Position: left
Used in: 84 kanji
Red
Radical #155
Reading: あか
Position: left
Used in: 5 kanji
Run
Radical #156
Reading: はしる
Position: left
Used in: 7 kanji
Foot
Radical #157
Reading: あし
Position: left
Variants: ⻊
Used in: 17 kanji
Body
Radical #158
Reading: み
Position: left
Used in: 4 kanji
Car
Radical #159
Reading: くるま
Position: left
Used in: 25 kanji
Bitter
Radical #160
Reading: からい
Position: top
Used in: 16 kanji
Morning
Radical #161
Reading: しんのたつ
Position: left
Used in: 8 kanji
Walk
Radical #162
Reading: しんにょう
Position: bottom
Variants: 辶
Used in: 59 kanji
City
Radical #163
Reading: むら
Position: right
Variants: 阝
Used in: 15 kanji
Wine
Radical #164
Reading: とり
Position: left
Used in: 18 kanji
Distinguish
Radical #165
Reading: のごめ
Position: left
Used in: 5 kanji
Village
Radical #166
Reading: さと
Position: top
Used in: 24 kanji
8 strokes
Gold
Radical #167
Reading: かね
Position: left
Variants: 釒
Used in: 33 kanji
Long
Radical #168
Reading: ながい
Position: left
Variants: 镸
Used in: 4 kanji
Gate
Radical #169
Reading: もん
Position: enclosure
Used in: 16 kanji
Mound
Radical #170
Reading: こざとへん
Position: left
Variants: 阝
Used in: 33 kanji
Slave
Radical #171
Reading: れい
Position: bottom
Used in: 6 kanji
Short Tailed Bird
Radical #172
Reading: ふるとり
Position: left
Used in: 41 kanji
Rain
Radical #173
Reading: あめ
Position: top
Used in: 18 kanji
Blue
Radical #174
Reading: あお
Position: top
Used in: 7 kanji
Wrong
Radical #175
Reading: あらず
Position: left
Used in: 7 kanji
9 strokes
Face
Radical #176
Reading: めん
Position: left
Used in: 2 kanji
Leather
Radical #177
Reading: かわ
Position: left
Used in: 5 kanji
Tanned Leather
Radical #178
Reading: なめしがわ
Position: left
Used in: 5 kanji
Leek
Radical #179
Reading: にら
Position: top
Sound
Radical #180
Reading: おと
Position: top
Used in: 18 kanji
Leaf
Radical #181
Reading: おおがい
Position: right
Used in: 25 kanji
Wind
Radical #182
Reading: かぜ
Position: enclosure
Used in: 5 kanji
Fly
Radical #183
Reading: とぶ
Position: left
Used in: 1 kanji
Eat
Radical #184
Reading: しょく
Position: left
Variants: 飠
Used in: 13 kanji
Head
Radical #185
Reading: くび
Position: top
Used in: 3 kanji
Fragrant
Radical #186
Reading: か
Position: top
Used in: 3 kanji
10 strokes
Horse
Radical #187
Reading: うま
Position: left
Variants: 马
Used in: 15 kanji
Bone
Radical #188
Reading: ほね
Position: left
Used in: 6 kanji
Tall
Radical #189
Reading: たかい
Position: top
Variants: 髙
Used in: 7 kanji
Hair
Radical #190
Reading: かみがしら
Position: top
Used in: 1 kanji
Fight
Radical #191
Reading: とうがまえ
Position: left
Used in: 2 kanji
Sacrificial Wine
Radical #192
Reading: ちょう
Position: top
Used in: 1 kanji
Cauldron
Radical #193
Reading: かなえ
Position: bottom
Used in: 2 kanji
Ghost
Radical #194
Reading: おに
Position: left
Used in: 6 kanji
11 strokes
Fish
Radical #195
Reading: うお
Position: left
Variants: 鱼
Used in: 4 kanji
Bird
Radical #196
Reading: とり
Position: left
Variants: 鸟
Used in: 5 kanji
Salt
Radical #197
Reading: ろ
Position: left
Used in: 1 kanji
Deer
Radical #198
Reading: しか
Position: left
Used in: 3 kanji
Wheat
Radical #199
Reading: ばく
Position: bottom
Variants: 麦
Used in: 2 kanji
Hemp
Radical #200
Reading: あさ
Position: top
Used in: 11 kanji
12 strokes
Yellow
Radical #201
Reading: き
Position: top
Variants: 黄
Used in: 3 kanji
Millet
Radical #202
Reading: きび
Position: top
Black
Radical #203
Reading: くろ
Position: top
Variants: 黒
Used in: 3 kanji
Embroidery
Radical #204
Reading: ふつ
Position: left
13 strokes
Frog
Radical #205
Reading: べん
Position: left
Variants: 黾
Tripod
Radical #206
Reading: かなえ
Position: bottom
Drum
Radical #207
Reading: つづみ
Position: left
Used in: 1 kanji
Rat
Radical #208
Reading: ねずみ
Position: top
14 strokes
Nose
Radical #209
Reading: はな
Position: top
Used in: 2 kanji
Even
Radical #210
Reading: せい
Position: top
Variants: 斉
Used in: 4 kanji
15 strokes
Tooth
Radical #211
Reading: は
Position: left
Variants: 歯
Used in: 4 kanji
16 strokes
Dragon
Radical #212
Reading: りゅう
Position: left
Variants: 竜
Used in: 4 kanji
Turtle
Radical #213
Reading: かめ
Position: bottom
Variants: 亀
Used in: 6 kanji
17 strokes
Flute
Radical #214
Reading: やく
Position: left
Used in: 1 kanji