List of kanji radicals by stroke count

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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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 count	Meaning and reading	Frequency	Jōyō freq	Examples	Group
1	一	1	one (いち, ichi, 一)	42	50	七三丈不丘世
2	丨	1	line, stick (ぼう, bō, 棒)	21		中
3	丶	1	dot (てん, ten, 点)	10		丸主
4	丿	1	bend, possessive particle no (の, no, ノ)	33		久之乎
5	乙 (乚)	1	second, latter (おつ, otsu, 乙)	42		九也
6	亅	1	hook, hooked stick (はねぼう, hanebō, 撥棒)	19		了事
7	二	2	two (に, ni, 二)	29		五井些亞
8	亠	2	pot lid (なべぶた, nabebuta, 鍋蓋)	38		亡交京
9	人 (亻,𠆢)	2	human (ひと, hito, 人)	794	83	仁休位今	Top 25%
10	儿	2	legs, human underneath (にんにょう, ninnyō, 人繞)	52		兄元
11	入 (𠆢)	2	enter (いる, iru, 入)	28		入全兩
12	八 (ハ)	2	eight, eight-head (はちがしら, hachigashira, 八頭)	44		公六共兵
13	冂	2	inverted box, window frame (まきがまえ, makigamae, 冏構)	50		内再
14	冖	2	cover, wa crown (わかんむり, wakanmuri, ワ冠)	30		冗冠
15	冫	2	ice, 2-stroke water (にすい, nisui, 二水)	115		冬冶冷凍
16	几	2	desk (つくえ, tsukue, 机)	38		凡
17	凵	2	container, inbox (うけばこ, ukebako, 受け箱)	23		凶出函
18	刀 (刂,⺈)	2	sword (かたな, katana, 刀)	377	37	刀分切初利刻則前	Top 75%
19	力	2	power, force (ちから, chikara, 力)	163		力加助勉	Top 75%
20	勹	2	embrace, wrap frame (つつみがまえ, tsutsumigamae, 包構)	64		勾包
21	匕	2	spoon hi (さじのひ, sajinohi, 匕のヒ)	19		化北
22	匚	2	box frame (はこがまえ, hakogamae, 匚構)	64		匣
23	亡 (匸)	3	dead, hiding frame (かくしがまえ, kakushigamae, 隠構)	17		亡妄忙忘盲荒望慌網
24	十	2	ten, complete (じゅう, jū, 十)	55	35	十千午半博	Top 75%
25	卜 (⼘,⺊)	2	divination to (ぼくのと, bokunoto, 卜のト)	45		占卦
26	卩 (㔾)	2	seal (ふしづくり, fushidzukuri, 節旁)	40		印危卵
27	厂	2	cliff (がんだれ, gandare, 雁垂)	129		厚原
28	厶	2	private (む, mu)	40		去參
29	又	2	again, right hand (また, mata)	91		友反取受
30	口	3	mouth, opening (くち, kuchi)	1,146	100	口古可名君否呉告周味命和哲唐善器	Top 25%
31	囗	3	enclosure (くにがまえ, kunigamae, 国構)	118		四回図国	Top 75%
32	土	3	earth (つち, tsuchi)	580	42	土在地型城場壁壓	Top 50%
33	士	3	scholar, bachelor (さむらい, samurai, 侍)	24		士壹
34	夂	3	winter (ふゆがしら, fuyugashira, 冬頭)	34		夏夆
35	夊	3	winter variant (すいにょう, suinyou, 夊繞)
36	夕	3	evening, sunset (ゆうべ, yūbe)	34		夕外多夜
37	大	3	big, very (だい, dai)	132		大天奈奧	Top 75%
38	女	3	woman, female (おんな, onna)	681	31	女好妄妻姉始姓姫	Top 50%
39	子	3	child, seed (こ, ko)	83		子孔字學
40	宀	3	roof (うかんむり, ukanmuri, ウ冠)	246	37	守家寒實	Top 50%
41	寸	3	sun (unit of measurement) (すん, sun)	40		寸寺尊將	Top 75%
42	小 (⺌, ⺍)	3	small, insignificant (ちいさい, chīsai, 小さい)	41		小少
43	尢 (尤,尣)	3	lame (まげあし, mageashi)	66		就
44	尸	3	corpse (しかばね, shikabane, 屍)	148		尺局	Top 75%
45	屮	3	sprout (てつ, tetsu)	38		屯
46	山	3	mountain (やま, yama)	636		山岡岩島	Top 75%
47	巛 (川,巜)	3	river (かわ, kawa)	26		川州巡
48	工	3	work (たくみ, takumi)	17		工左巫差
49	已 (己,巳)	3	oneself (おのれ, onore)	20		己巳
50	巾	3	turban, scarf (はば, haba)	295		市布帝常	Top 75%
51	干	3	dry (ほし, hoshi)	9		平年
52	幺	3	short thread (いとがしら, itogashira, 糸頭)	50		幻幼
53	广	3	dotted cliff (まだれ, madare, 麻垂)	15		序店府度座庭廣廳
54	廴	3	long stride (いんにょう, innyō, 延繞)	9		延
55	廾	3	two hands, twenty (にじゅうあし, nijūashi, 二十脚)	50		弁
56	弋	3	ceremony, shoot, arrow (しきがまえ, shikigamae, 式構)	15		式弑
57	弓	3	bow (ゆみ, yumi)	165		弓引弟弱彌	Top 75%
58	彐 (彑)	3	pig's head (けいがしら, keigashira, 彑頭)	25		彖
59	彡	3	hair, bristle, stubble, beard (さんづくり, sandzukuri, 三旁)	62		形彦
60	彳	3	step (ぎょうにんべん, gyouninben, 行人偏)	215		役彼後得徳徼	Top 75%
61	心 (忄,⺗)	4	heart (りっしんべん, risshinben, 立心偏)	1,115	67	必忙忌性悪情想	Top 25%
62	戈	4	spear, halberd (かのほこ, kanohoko)	116		成式弐戦
63	戸 (戶,户)	4	door, house (とびらのと, tobiranoto)	44		戸戻所
64	手 (扌,龵)	4	hand (て, te)	1,203	68	手才挙拜拳掌掣擧 (持掛打批技抱押)	Top 25%
65	支	4	branch (しにょう, shinyō, 支繞)	26		攱攲
66	攵 (攴)	4	strike, whip (のぶん, nobun, ノ文)	296		收敍數斅	Top 75%
67	文	4	script, literature (ぶん, bun)	26		文斊斈斌斐斑斕
68	斗	4	dipper, measuring scoop (とます, tomasu)	32		料斡
69	斤	4	axe (おの, ono, 斧)	55		斦斧新斥斬斷
70	方	4	way, square, raft (ほう, hō)	92		方放旅族
71	无 (旡)	4	have not (むにょう, munyō)	12		无旡既旣
72	日	4	sun, day (にち, nichi)	453	51	日白百明的映時晩	Top 50%
73	曰	4	say (いわく, iwaku)	37		書最晉曷曹曾
74	月 (⺝)	4	moon, month; body, flesh (つき, tsuki)	69	47	有服青朝	Top 50% (肉)
75	木	4	tree (き, ki)	1,369	86	木杢板相根森楽機末本杉林	Top 25%
76	欠	4	yawn, lack (あくび, akubi)	235		欣欽欧欲歌
77	止	4	stop (とめる, tomeru)	99		正歩此步武歪歲
78	歹 (歺)	4	death, decay (がつへん, gatsuhen, 歹偏)	231		死列殕
79	殳	4	weapon, lance (ほこつくり, hokotsukuri)	93		役投殴殷
80	毋 (母,⺟)	4	do not; mother (なかれ-nakare; はは, haha)	16		毋母毎姆梅
81	比	4	compare, compete (くらべる, kuraberu)	21		皆批毕毖毘毚
82	毛	4	fur, hair (け, ke)	211		毟毡毦毫毳耗
83	氏	4	clan (うじ, uji)	10		氏民紙婚氓
84	气	4	steam, breath (きがまえ, kigamae, 気構)	17		気汽氧
85	水 (氵,氺)	4	water (みず, mizu)	1,595	98	水永泳決治海演漢瀬	Top 25%
86	火 (灬)	4	fire (ひ, hi)	639		火灯毯爆 (烈烹焦然煮)	Top 75%
87	爪 (爫,⺥,⺤)	4	claw, nail, talon (つめ, tsume)	36		爬爯爭爰爲
88	父	4	father (ちち, chichi)	10		斧釜
89	爻	4	mix, twine, cross (こう, kō)	16		爼爽爾
90	爿 (丬)	4	split wood (しょうへん, shōhen, 爿偏)	48		牀奘牃
91	片	4	(a) slice (かた, kata)	77		版牌牒
92	牙	5	fang (きばへん, kibahen, 牙偏)	9		芽呀牚
93	牛 (牜, ⺧)	4	cow (うし, ushi)	233		告牟牧物特解
94	犬 (犭)	4	dog (いぬ, inu)	444		犬犯狂狙狗献獣	Top 75%
95	玄	5	dark, profound (げん, gen)	6		弦玆
96	王 (玉, 玊, ⺩)	4	king; ball, jade (おう-ō; たま, tama)	473		王玉主弄皇理差聖	Top 75%
97	瓜	6	melon (うり, uri)	55		呱瓞
98	瓦	5	tile (かわら, kawara)	174		瓧瓮甄
99	甘	5	sweet (あまい, amai)	22		柑甜酣
100	生	5	life (うまれる, umareru)	22		牲笙甥
101	用 (甩)	5	use; (throw) (もちいる, mochīru)	10		佣甬甯
102	田	5	field (た, ta)	192		田町思留略番	Top 75%
103	疋 (⺪)	5	bolt of cloth (ひき, hiki)	15		疏楚胥延
104	疒	5	sickness (やまいだれ, yamaidare, 病垂)	526		病症痛癌癖	Top 75%
105	癶	5	footsteps (はつがしら, hatsugashira, 発頭)	15		発登
106	白	5	white (しろ, shiro)	109		皃的皆皇
107	皮	5	skin (けがわ, kegawa, 毛皮)	94		披彼波
108	皿	5	dish (さら, sara)	129		盂盉盍監蘯
109	目	5	eye (め, me)	647		目見具省眠眼観覧
110	矛	5	spear, pike (むのほこ, munohoko)	65		茅矜
111	矢	5	arrow (や, ya)	64		医族矩
112	石	5	stone (いし, ishi)	499		石岩砂破碑碧	Top 75%
113	示 (礻)	5	altar, display (しめす, shimesu)	213		示奈祭禁礼社神視福	Top 75%
114	禸	5	track (ぐうのあし, gūnoashi)	12		禹禺禽
115	禾	5	two-branch tree (のぎ, nogi, ノ木)	431		利私季和科香秦穀
116	穴	5	cave (あな, ana)	298		空突窅窘窩窶竇
117	立	5	stand, erect (たつ, tatsu)	101		立音産翌意新端親競
118	竹 (⺮)	6	bamboo (たけ, take)	953		竺笑第等簡	Top 75%
119	米	6	rice (こめ, kome)	318		料断奥糊麟
120	糸 (糹)	6	thread, string (いと, ito)	823	49	系級紙素細組終絵紫	Top 50%
121	缶	6	can, earthenware jar (かん, kan)	77		缶缸窑陶
122	罒 (网,罓,⺲,⺳)	5	net (あみがしら, amigashira, 網頭)	163		買罪置羅
123	羊 (⺶,⺷)	6	sheep (ひつじ, hitsuji)	156		着羚翔着
124	羽	6	feather, wing (はね, hane)	220		習翀翁翔
125	耂 (老,⺹)	4	old (ろう, rō)	22		耆孝耋
126	而	6	rake, beard (しかして, shikashite)	22		耎耐耑
127	耒	6	plow (らいすき, raisuki)	84		耔耝耨耰
128	耳	6	ear (みみ, mimi)	172		取聞職叢
129	聿 (⺻)	6	brush (ふでづくり, fudedzukuri, 聿旁)	19		律書建
130	肉 (⺼,月)	6	meat (にく, niku)	674		肉肖股胃腅脤	Top 50% (月)
131	臣	7	minister, official (しん, shin)	16		臥宦蔵
132	自	6	oneself (みずから, mizukara)	34		自臫臬臲
133	至	6	arrive (いたる, itaru)	24		致臸臺
134	臼	6	mortar (うす, usu)	71		桕舅舂鼠插
135	舌	6	tongue (した, shita)	31		乱适話舍
136	舛	7	opposite (ます, masu)	10		舛舜舞
137	舟	6	boat (ふね, fune)	197		航船艦
138	艮	6	stopping (うしとら, ushitora, 丑寅)	5		良飲很
139	色	6	colour, prettiness (いろ, iro)	21		色艴艷
140	艹 (艸,䒑)	3	grass, vegetation (くさ, kusa, 草)	1,902		共花(37) 英苦草茶落幕靴鞄薬	Top 50%
141	虍	6	tiger stripes (とらかんむり, torakanmuri, 虎冠)	114		虎虐彪虒
142	虫	6	insect (むし, mushi)	1,067		蚯蚓強触蟻蟹
143	血	6	blood (ち, chi)	60		洫衁衅衆
144	行	6	go, do (ぎょう, gyō)	53		行衍術衝
145	衣 (衤)	6	clothes (ころも, koromo)	607		衣装裁 (初被複)
146	西 (襾,覀)	6	west (にし, nishi)	29		西要覊
147	見	7	see (みる, miru)	161		規親覺觀
148	角	7	horn (つの, tsuno)	158		觚解觕觥觸
149	言 (訁)	7	speech (こと, koto)	861	54	誁詋詔評詗詥試詧	Top 50%
150	谷	7	valley (たに, tani)	54		谿豀谸
151	豆	7	bean (まめ, mame)	68		豈豐豎
152	豕	7	pig (いのこ, inoko, 猪子)	148		豕豚象
153	豸	7	cat, badger (むじな, mujina, 狢)	140		豹貌貓貉
154	貝	7	shell (かい, kai)	277	32	財賊賜贛貧貨貫貿	Top 50%
155	赤	7	red, bare (あか, aka)	31		赫赭
156	走 (赱)	7	run (はしる, hashiru)	285		赴起超
157	足 (⻊)	7	foot (あし, ashi)	580		跑跨跟跪路
158	身	7	body (み, mi)	97		躬躲軀
159	車	7	cart, car (くるま, kuruma)	361		軌軟較軍載
160	辛	7	spicy, bitter (からい, karai)	36		辜辟辣辦辨
161	辰	7	morning (しんのたつ, shinnotatsu, 辰のたつ)	15		辱農
162	⻌ (辵,辶)	3	walk (しんにゅう, shinnyū, 之繞)	381	38	巡迎通追逃迎進	Top 50%
163	阝 (邑,⻏)	3	town (阝 right) (むら, mura)	350	30	那邦郎部郭都鄉	Top 50% (阝)
164	酉	7	sake (rice-based alcoholic beverage) (とり, tori)	290		酒　醉油醒酸	Top 75%
165	釆	7	divide, distinguish, choose (のごめ, nogome, ノ米)	14		釉釋
166	里	7	village, mile (さと, sato)	14		野野
167	金 (釒)	8	metal, gold (かね, kane)	806		銀銅釘銳鋞鋙鉒鉍鉗鈡鈠	Top 50%
168	長 (镸)	8	long, grow; leader (ながい-nagai; ちょう, chō)	55		長
169	門	8	gate (もん, mon)	246		間閑関闘閉開閏間
170	阝 (阜,⻖)	3	mound, dam (阝 left) (ぎふのふ, gifunofu, 岐阜の阜)	348	30	阪防阻陆陘院险陳	Top 50% (阝)
171	隶	8	slave, capture (れいづくり, reidzukuri, 隷旁)	12		隸隺
172	隹	8	old bird (ふるとり, furutori, 古鳥)	233		雀集雁难雀雅
173	雨 (⻗)	8	rain (あめ, ame)	298		雾霜雪霸雲霧	Top 75%
174	青 (靑)	8	green, blue (あお, ao)	17		靕靖靜
175	非	8	wrong (あらず, arazu)	25		靠靠靟
176	面 (靣)	9	face (めん, men)	66		靦靨
177	革	9	leather, rawhide (かくのかわ, kakunokawa)	305		靴鞍鞅鞍鞭
178	韋	10	tanned leather (なめしがわ, nameshigawa)	100		韋韓韜
179	韭	9	leek (にら, nira)	20		韱韲
180	音	9	sound (おと, oto)	43		韶韻韾
181	頁	9	big shell (おおがい, ōgai, 大貝)	372		頃項順須領頭頩頂
182	風 (𠘨)	9	wind (かぜ, kaze)	182		風颱飄颿颪
183	飛	9	fly (とぶ, tobu)	92		飜飝
184	食 (飠)	9	eat, food (しょく, shoku)	403		飯飲餓餘餐養
185	首	9	neck, head (くび, kubi)	20		馗馘
186	香	9	fragrant (においこう, nioikō)	37		馨
187	馬	10	horse (うま, uma)	472		馮馴馳駐驚
188	骨	10	bone (ほね, hone)	185		骼髒髀骿骾
189	高 (髙)	10	tall, high (たかい, takai)	34		髚髛
190	髟	10	hair (かみがしら, kamigashira, 髪頭)	243		髮鬚鬆鬍髦
191	鬥	10	fight (とうがまえ, tōgamae, 闘構)	23		鬧鬪
192	鬯	10	herbs, sacrificial wine (ちょう, chō)	8		鬰鬱
193	鬲	10	tripod, cauldron (かなえ, kanae)	73		鬶鬷鬸
194	鬼	10	ghost, demon (おに, oni)	141		魂魁鬽魄
195	魚	11	fish (うお, uo)	571		鯉鮑魛魜魝魞魟魠
196	鳥	11	bird (とり, tori)	750		鳫鳮鳱鳳鳴鳿雞鳴鴻鴛
197	鹵	11	salt (ろ, ro)	44		鹹鹼鹽
198	鹿	11	deer (しか, shika)	104		塵麃麋麉麟
199	麦 (麥)	7	wheat (むぎ, mugi, 麦)	131		麴麵麱麨麺
200	麻	11	hemp, flax (あさ, asa)	34		麼魔
201	黄 (黃)	11	yellow (きいろ, kīro, 黄色)	42		黊黌
202	黍	12	millet (きび, kibi)	46		黏黎
203	黒 (黑)	11	black (くろ, kuro)	172		點黛黱黨
204	黹	12	embroidery, needlework (ふつ, futsu, 黻)	8		黼黻
205	黽	13	frog, amphibian (べん, ben)	40		黿鼈
206	鼎	13	sacrificial tripod (かなえ, kanae)	14		鼏鼒
207	鼓	13	drum (つづみ, tsudzumi)	46		鼗鼘
208	鼠	13	rat, mouse (ねずみ, nezumi)	92		鼢鼣鼤
209	鼻	14	nose (はな, hana)	49		鼼鼽鼿
210	齊	14	even, uniformly (せい, sei, 斉)	18		齋齏齏
211	歯 (齒)	12	tooth, molar (は, ha)	162		齡齠齗
212	竜 (龍)	10	dragon (りゅう, ryū)	14		龖龘
213	亀 (龜)	11	turtle, tortoise (かめ, kame)	24		龝
214	龠	17	flute (やく, yaku)	19		龣

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,^[3] but since linguistics uses 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 radical	Stroke count	Kanji note
亻	2	Variant of 人
𠆢	2	Some dictionaries use 个.
丷 (䒑)	2	Variant of 艸/艹
マ	2	Katakana ま-ma.
九	2	Japanese nine, きゅう-kyū.
ユ	2	Katakana ゆ-yu.
乃	2	From 丿.
刂	2	Variant of 刀
⺌	3	Variant of 小.
川	3	Variant of 巛.
彑	3	Variant of 彐.
也	3	From 乙.
亡	3	From 亠.
及	3	及 = 丿 + ㇋ + ㇃.
久	3	From 丿.
忄	3	Variant of 心.
扌	3	Variant of 手.
氵	3	Variant of 水.
犭	3	Variant of 犬.
灬	4	Variant of 火.
元	4	From 儿.
井	4	井 = 二 + ノ + ｜
勿	4	From 勹.
尤	4	Variant of 尢.
五	4	Japanese five.
屯	4	From 屮/艸/艹
巴	4	From 已/己
礻	4	Variant of 示
衤	5	Variant of 衣.
世	5	Modern form of 丗, from 山 + 一.
巨	5	From 匚 + 工.
冊	5	Modern form of 册, from 冂. (⺵)
母	5	Variant of 毋.
奄	8	From 大 + 电.
岡	8	岡 = 冂 + 䒑 + 山
免	8	免 = ⺈ + 口 + ｜ + 儿
斉	8	Variant of 齊.
品	9	Variant of 口.
啇	11	啇 = 立 + 冂 + 古 (十 + 口)
無	12	Variant of 无.

Other possible radical candidates

New radical	Stroke count	Kanji note
⺈	2	Variant of 刀 or 勹
覀	6	Variant of 西
⺮	6	Variant of 竹

竹 and 西 (西 to a lesser extent) are only used in their original form when representing the original meanings. As components of jouyou kanji they always appear as ⺮ and 覀.

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.

Japanese name	Chinese	Meaning	Example
hen (偏)	旁	Left sided element	略 consists of Radical 102 田 and 各.
tsukuri (旁)	旁	Right accompanying element	期 consists of Radical 74 月 and 其.
kanmuri (冠)	頭	Crown element	歩 consists of Radical 77 止 and 少, 男 consist of Radical 102 田 and 力. Note that single radical (e.g., Radical 102 田) is used for other type as well, and lesser strokes simple Kanji works as a radical, like 力 is also Radical 19.
ashi (脚)	底	Foot element	志 consists of Radical 61 心 and 士, 畠 consists of Radical 102 田 and 白. Also note that single radical is interchangeably used for other type as well, and 白 is Radical 106 too, but not used as crown type for 畠.
ashi variant		Top and bottom element	亘 consists of Radical 7 二 and 日.
ashi variant		Center element	昼 consists of Radical 72 日 with upper 尺 and lower 一.
tare (垂)		Dangle / left shoulder element	房 consists of Radical 63 戸 and 方.
nyō (繞)		Surround / left and bottom element	起 consists of Radical 156 走 and 己.
kamae (構)		Posture (box, enclosure) element	国 consists of Radical 31 囗 and 玉.
kamae variant		Box, bottom open	間 consists of Radical 169 門 and 日.
		Box, top open	凶 consists of Radical 17 凵 and 乄.
		Box, right open	医 consists of Radical 22 匚 and 矢.
		Right shoulder	式 consists of Radical 56 弋 and 工.
		Left and right sided	街 consists of Radical 144 行 and 圭.

References

External links

[1] ttp://kanjidamage.com/articles/most-common-radicals

[2] ttp://www.kanji-link.com/en/kanji/intro/

[3] ttp://www.kanjinetworks.com/eng/kanji-dictionary/kanji-radical-dictionary.cfm

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