1/13/14 JOSHU - Common Kanji Radicals

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Introduction Common Radicals Placement Usage Conclusion
Common Radicals
The term radical refers to the building blocks of kanji. Virtually all Japanese
kanji characters are either a single radical or are made up of two or more
radicals. By memorizing kanji as a combination of parts rather than as a
unique character, one greatly simplifies the learning process.
Here are some basic radicals seen very frequently in more complex kanji
characters.
True Radicals
These radicals appear in the same form either as their own kanji or as a
component of more complex kanji.
Meaning: Day, Sun
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning: (Physical) Strength
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning: Mouth, Enclosure
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Jump to Another Section
Introduction
Common Radicals
Placement
Usage
Conclusion
Extra Help
Much more information on
kanji radicals is available from
various outside sources.
Please see the Conclusion
section for links and tips.
To email a Japanese instructor
for questions or comments,
click here.
Kanji Radicals
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Meaning: Child, Boy
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning: Field
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning: Metal, Money
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning: Word
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning: Horse
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Modified Radicals
The following radicals are a bit trickier. Just like the true radicals, they can
exist by themselves or as components in other kanji. However, they also
have a modified form that exists only as components of other kanji. The
modified form has the same meaning as the original form.
Meaning: Person, Man
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning: Water, Liquid
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Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning:
Fire
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning: Hand
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning: Heart, Feeling
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Meaning: God, Rite, Enshrine
Pronunciations:
Examples:
Learning to recognized radicals even in their modified form is one key to
understanding the possible meaning of more complex kanji. Move on to
the next section to see how these components fit together.
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2009 Travis S chiller and Naoko S uit o, Ph.D. All Right s Reserved.




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