From Conservapedia
This entry makes use of Japanese characters and will require Japanese language support to be installed on your computer in order to avoid the characters being replaced by question marks, or blanked out.
A radical (bushu 部首) is a sub-element of all kanji characters, either forming a part of a character, or representing a character by itself. Radicals are used classify each kanji systematically, expressing the general nature of the kanji characters, and providing a clue as to its origin, group, meaning and pronunciation. Radicals, together with stroke count, form the main organisational system in many kanji dictionaries.
The Radical Groups
There are a total of 214 radicals, which are divided into seven groups, namely hen, tsukuri, kanmuri, ashi, tare, nyou, and kamae. Based on the premise that each character fills a square-shaped space, which group a specific radical will fall under will be determined by its position within the hypothetical square.
- The hen are found at the left hand side of a kanji character.
- The tsukuri are found at the right hand side of a kanji character.
- The kanmuri are found above a kanji character.
- The ashi are found below a kanji character.
- Tare will be found at either the right hand vertical or upper horizontal positions of a kanji character.
- Nyou will be found at either the right hand vertical or lower horizontal positions of a kanji character.
- The kamae will encircle a kanji character.
Examples of Hen Radicals
| Radical
| Name
| Meaning
|
| 亻
| Ninben
| Person
|
| 土
| Tsuchihen
| Earth
|
| 女
| Onnahen
| Woman
|
| 彳
| Gyouninben
| Going Man
|
| 忄 or 忙
| Risshinben
| Heart
|
| 手
| Tehen
| Hand
|
| 木
| Kihen
| Tree
|
| 氵 or 汁
| Sanzui
| Water
|
| 火
| Hihen
| Fire
|
| 牛
| Ushihen
| Cow
|
| 礻 or 礼
| Shimesuhen
| Show
|
| 禾
| Nogihen
| Two-branch Tree
|
| 糸
| Itohen
| Thread
|
| 言
| Gonben
| Word
|
| 金
| Kanehen
| Metal
|
| 阝
| Kozatohen
| Village
|
Examples of Tsukuri Radicals
| Radical
| Name
| Meaning
|
| 刂
| Rittou
| Sword
|
| 攵
| Nobun
| Folding Chair
|
| 欠
| Akubi
| Gap
|
| 頁
| Oogai
| Page
|
Examples of Kanmuri Radicals
| Radical
| Name
| Meaning
|
| 宀
| Ukanmuri
| Crown
|
| 竹
| Takekanmuri
| Bamboo
|
| 艾 or 艸
| Kusakanmuri
| Grass
|
| 雨
| Amekanmuri
| Rain
|
Examples of Ashi Radicals
| Radical
| Name
| Meaning
|
| 儿
| Hitoashi
| Human Legs
|
| 心
| Kokoro
| Heart
|
| 灬
| Rekka
| Fire
|
Examples of Tare Radicals
| Radical
| Name
| Meaning
|
| 尸
| Shikabane
| Flag
|
| 广
| Madare
| Dotted Cliff
|
| 疒
| Yamaidare
| Sickness
|
Examples of Nyou Radicals
| Radical
| Name
| Meaning
|
| 込
| Shinnyou
| Road
|
| 廴
| Ennyou
| Long Stride
|
Examples of Kamae Radicals
| Radical
| Name
| Meaning
|
| 囗
| Kunigamae
| Box
|
| 門
| Mongamae
| Gate
|
