Kanji radicals are graphemes, or graphical parts, that are used in organizing Japanese kanji in dictionaries. They are derived from the 214 Chinese Kangxi radicals.
Table key The following table shows the 214 Kangxi radicals, which are derived from 47,035 characters.
The frequency list is derived from the 47,035 characters in the Chinese language.
The Jōyō frequency is from the set of 2,136 Jōyō kanji.
Top 25% means that this radical represents 25% of Jōyō kanji. Top 50% means that this radical plus the Top 25% represent 50% of Jōyō kanji. Top 75% means that this radical plus the Top 50% represent 75% of Jōyō kanji.
Many radicals are not commonly written by themselves so people wouldn't know the technical hiragana reading given here. The simplified table of Japanese kanji radicals page only lists common readings.
Table of radicals No.Radical (variants)Stroke countMeaning and readingFrequencyJōyō freqExamplesGroup11425021213110413351426119722982389279483Top 25%1025211228122441325014230152115162381722318237737Top 75%192163Top 75%202642121922264233 (2)172425535Top 75%252452624027212928240292913031,146100Top 25%313118Top 75%32358042Top 50%3332434334353N/A36334373132Top 75%38368131Top 50%3938340324637Top 50%41340Top 75%4234143366443148Top 75%45338463636Top 75%473264831749320503cloth, 295Top 75%5139523505331554395535056315573165Top 75%5832559362603215Top 75%6141,11567Top 25%624116634446441,20368Top 25%65426664296Top 75%674266843269455704927141272445351Top 50%734377446947Top 50% (肉)7541,36986Top 25%7642357749978423179493804168142182421183410844178541,59598Top 25%864639Top 75%87436884108941690448914779249934233944444Top 75%9556964473Top 75%97555985174995221005221015101025192Top 75%1035151045526Top 75%1055151065109107594108512910956471105651115641125499Top 75%1135213Top 75%1145121155431116529811751011186953Top 75%1196318120682349Top 50%12167712251631236156124622012542212662212768412861721296191306674Top 50% (月)13171613263413362413467113563113671013761971386513962114031,902(37) Top 50%141611414261,067143660144653145660714662914771611487158149786154Top 50%15075415176815271481537140154727732Top 50%155731156728515775801587971597361160736161715162338138Top 50%163335030Top 50% (阝)1647290Top 75%1657141667141678806Top 50%1688551698246170334830Top 50% (阝)17181217282331738298Top 75%1748171758251769661779305178910017992018094318193721829182183992184940318592018693718710472188101851891034190102431911023192108193107319410141195115711961175019711441981110419971312001134201114220212462031117220412820513402061314207134620813922091449210141821112162212101421311242141719
Kanji radicals not recognized by Kangxi These radicals are either listed as variants or not listed at all in the kangxi radical table.
The 214 Kangxi radicals are technically classifiers as they are not always etymologically correct, but since linguists use 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.
New radicalStroke countKanji note2Variant of 2Some dictionaries use .2Variant of 2Katakana (ma).2Japanese nine, pronounced (kyū).2Katakana (yu).2From .2Variant of 3Variant of .3Variant of .3Variant of .3From .3From .3 = .3From .3Variant of .3Variant of .3Variant of .3Variant of .4Variant of .4From .4 = 二 + ノ + ｜4From .4Variant of .4Japanese five.4From 4From 4Variant of 5Variant of .5Modern form of , from 山 + 一.5From .5Modern form of , from 冂. (⺵)5Variant of .8From + .8 = 冂 + 䒑 + 山8 = ⺈ + 口 + ｜ + 儿8Variant of .9Variant of .11 = 立 + 冂 + 古 (十 + 口)12Variant of .
Other possible radical candidates New radicalStroke countKanji note2Variant of or 6Variant of 6Variant of and ( to a lesser extent) are only used in their original form when representing the original meanings. As components of jōyō kanji they always appear as and .
Position of radical within character There are fourteen different radical positions, seven basic types and seven variant. The following table lists radical types with Japanese name and position in red and indicate how Kanji is formed by radical with example.
Position Japanese name Chinese Meaning Example Left sided element consists of Radical 102 and . Right accompanying element consists of Radical 74 and . Crown element consists of Radical 77 and , and consists of Radical 102 and .
Note that single radical (e.g., Radical 102 ) is used for other type as well, and lesser strokes simple Kanji works as a radical, like is also Radical 19. Foot element consists of Radical 61 and , and consists of Radical 102 and .
Also note that single radical is interchangeably used for other type as well, and is Radical 106 too, but not used as crown type for . Top and bottom element consists of Radical 7 and . Center element consists of Radical 72 with upper and lower . Dangle / left shoulder element consists of Radical 63 and . Surround / left and bottom element consists of Radical 156 and . Posture (box, enclosure) element consists of Radical 31 and . Box, bottom open consists of Radical 169 and . Box, top open consists of Radical 17 and . Box, right open consists of Radical 22 and . Right shoulder consists of Radical 56 and . Left and right sided consists of Radical 144 and .
See also List of kanji radicals by frequency List of Unicode radicals Kangxi radical
References
External links
http://nihonshock.com/2012/02/kanji-radicals-and-components/ http://www.hadamitzky.de/english/lp_radical_tables.htm http://kanjialive.com/214-traditional-kanji-radicals/ http://www.joyokanji.com/radical-notes All (CJK) Unicode Han characters