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Kanji Radicals Guide

Master characters by understanding their building blocks (部首 - Bushu). 🧩

💡 Tips for Learning Kanji

1
Kanji are Puzzles Understand that Kanji are not single pictures, but combinations of parts called "radicals".
2
Group by Radicals Divide Kanji into groups by their radicals and learn the common meanings they share.
3
Create Stories For example, in "休", a "person (人)" is next to a "tree (木)", so it means "rest". Turn radicals into parts of a story.

1. Radicals Related to "People" (Humans)

イ
Person Radical (Nin-ben) Related to humans or people
休 (きゅう)
Rest
体 (たい)
Body
何 (なに)
What
代 (だい)
Era/Fee
儿
Human Legs Radical (Hito-ashi) Legs or walking
先 (せん)
Earlier
元 (げん)
Origin
光 (こう)
Light

2. Radicals Related to "Nature & Environment"

氵
Water Radical (Sanzui) Water or liquids
海 (うみ)
Sea
漢 (かん)
Chinese
池 (いけ)
Pond
洗 (あら)う
Wash
火
Fire Radical (Hi / Rekka) Fire, heat, or burning
焼 (や)く
Bake
熱 (ねつ)
Heat
照 (て)る
Shine
日
Sun Radical (Hi-hen) Sun, time, or brightness
時 (じ)
Time
明 (めい)
Bright
曜 (よう)
Day
晩 (ばん)
Evening
木
Tree Radical (Ki-hen) Trees, plants, or wood products
林 (はやし)
Grove
森 (もり)
Forest
校 (こう)
School
机 (つくえ)
Desk
艹
Grass Radical (Kusa-kanmuri) Grass, flowers, or vegetation
花 (はな)
Flower
茶 (ちゃ)
Tea
薬 (くすり)
Medicine
菜 (さい)
Vegetable
土
Earth Radical (Tsuchi-hen) Earth, land, or location
地 (ち)
Earth
場 (ば)
Place
城 (しろ)
Castle
型 (かた)
Model/Shape

3. Radicals Related to "Body & Organs"

口
Mouth Radical (Kuchi-hen) Actions using the mouth
吸 (す)う
Suck/Smoke
呼 (よ)ぶ
Call
味 (あじ)
Taste
鳴 (な)く
Chirp
目
Eye Radical (Me-hen) Eyes or seeing
見 (み)る
See
眼 (がん)
Eye
眠 (ねむ)い
Sleepy
眺 (なが)める
Stare
扌
Hand Radical (Te-hen) Actions using hands
持 (も)つ
Hold
打 (う)つ
Hit
拾 (ひろ)う
Pick Up
指 (ゆび)
Finger

4. Radicals Related to "Buildings & Movement"

宀
Roof Radical (U-kanmuri) Roofs, houses, or living spaces
家 (いえ)
House
室 (しつ)
Room
安 (あん)
Cheap/Safe
宿 (しゅく)
Inn
辶
Movement Radical (Shinnyo) Movement, road, or walking
道 (みち)
Road
進 (すす)む
Advance
近 (ちか)い
Near
通 (とお)る
Pass through
門
Gate Radical (Mon-gamae) Gates or entry points
間 (あいだ)
Interval
聞 (き)く
Hear
開 (あ)ける
Open
閉 (し)める
Close

5. Radicals Related to "Heart & State"

忄
Heart Radical (Risshin-ben) Emotions, thoughts, or feelings
思 (おも)う
Think
急 (いそ)ぐ
Hurry
情 (じょう)
Condition
忙 (いそが)しい
Busy