List_of_kanji_radicals_by_frequency

List of kanji radicals by frequency

List of kanji radicals by frequency

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This is a simplified table of Japanese kanji visual components (graphemes) that does away with all the archaic forms found in the Japanese version of the Kangxi radicals.

The 214 Kanji radicals are technically classifiers as they are not always etymologically correct,[1] 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.

Most common radicals

There are two readings for a kanji: On'yomi and Kun'yomi. On'yomi is a reading derived from the Chinese way of reading, Kun'yomi is the original Japanese reading.

The six radicals that occur the most frequently[2] (in order of frequency)[3] and make up 25% of the 2136 Jōyō kanji:


  • 口 (くち) (3 strokes)
mouth, opening
(not to be confused with box radical 囗)

Kun: くち

On: コウ、 ク


  • 水/氵 (みず) (4/3 strokes)
water

Kun: みず、 みず-

On: スイ


  • 木 (き) (4 strokes)
tree

Kun: き、 こ-

On: ボク、 モク


  • 人/亻 (ひと) (2 strokes)
person, human

Kun: ひと、 -り、 -と

On: ジン、 ニン


  • 手/扌 (て) (4 strokes)
hand

Kun: て、 て-、 -て、 た-

On: シュ、 ズ


  • 心/忄/⺗ (こころ) (4 strokes)
heart radical, spirit, mind

Kun: こころ、 -ごころ

On: シン

Fourteen radicals that together with the above make up 50% of Jōyō kanji:


  • 言 (こと) (7 strokes)
word, say, speech / to speak

Kun: い.う、 こと

On: ゲン、 ゴン


  • 日 (ひ, ニチ) (4 strokes)
sun, day, Sunday, time, counter for days

Kun: ひ、 -び、 -か

On: ニチ、 ジツ


  • 糸 (いと) (6 strokes)
silk/thread

Kun: いと

On: シ


  • 幺 (いとがしら) (3 strokes)
(a variant of ⽷)
short thread radical

Kun: ちいさい

On: ヨウ


  • 肉 (にく) (6 strokes)
meat/organ, flesh

Kun: しし

On: ニク


  • 月 (つき) (4 strokes)
moon, month, Monday, period, counter for months

Kun: つき

On: ゲツ、 ガツ


  • 土 (つち) (3 strokes)
ground, soil, earth, ground, Turkey

Kun: つち

On: ド、 ト


  • ⻌ (しんにょう) (3 strokes)
(a variant of ⾡)
go/road radical, walk, to advance


  • 艹 (艸/草/くさ) (3 strokes)
grass/plant radical


  • 宀 (屋根/やね, ウ/ウ冠/うかんむり) (3 strokes)
roof/crown radical, roof (house), shaped crown

On: ベン、 メン


  • 貝 (かい) (7 strokes)
shell, property, wealth

Kun: かい

On: バイ


  • 女 (おんな, ジョ) (3 strokes)
woman / female

Kun: おんな、 め

On: ジョ、 ニョ、 ニョウ


  • 阝 (⻖/阜/こざと) (⻏/邑/おおざと) (3 strokes)
wall/hill/village radical (left side) 
large village radical (right side) place, left village radical, country, city

Kun: こざと


  • 金 (かね/キン) (8 strokes)
gold/metal, mineral

Kun: かね、 かな-、 -がね

On: キン、 コン、 ゴン

Thirty-one radicals that together with the above make up 75% of Jōyō kanji:


  • 一 (イチ/いち) (1 stroke)
one

Kun: ひと-、 ひと.つ

On: イチ、 イツ


  • 刀/刂 (かたな, トウ) (2 strokes)
knife, sword

Kun: かたな、 そり

On: トウ

Variants: 刂 (つくり) right side of the kanji


  • 十 (ジュウ, と) (2 strokes)
ten, complete

Kun: とお、 と、 そ

On: ジュウ、 ジッ、 ジュッ


  • 田 (た, デン) (5 strokes)
rice field / rice paddy

Kun: た

On: デン

Variants: 田 (へん) left side of the kanji



  • 火/灬 (ひ, カ) (4 strokes)
fire

Kun: ひ、 -び、 ほ-

On: カ

Variants: 火 (へん), 灬 (あし) left side of the kanji, bottom of the kanji


  • 大 (おお, ダイ) (3 strokes)
big, very

Kun: おお-、 おお.きい、 -おお.いに

On: ダイ、 タイ


  • 山 (やま, サン) (3 strokes)
mountain

Kun: やま

On: サン、 セン

Variants: 山 (へん), かんむり left side of the kanji, top of kanji



  • 食 / 飠 (しょく) (9 strokes)
eat, food, to eat

Kun: く.う、 く.らう、 た.べる、 は.む

On: ショク、 ジキ

Variants: 食=飠 (へん) left side of the kanji


  • 車 (くるま) (7 strokes)
vehicle, cart, car, wheel

Kun: くるま

On: シャ

Variants: 車 (へん) left side of the kanji



  • 彳 (行人/ぎょうにん) (3 strokes)
walking/going person radical , stop, linger, loiter, ,step, stride, street, to go

Kun: たたず.む

On: テキ

Variants: 彳 (へん), ⾏ (かまえ) left side of the kanji, enclose the kanji



  • 目 (め) (5 strokes)
eye radical, class, look, insight, experience, care favor

Kun: め、 -め、 ま-

On: モク、 ボク

Variants: 目 (へん), 目 (かんむり), left side of the kanji, top of kanji


  • 雨 (あめ) (8 strokes)
rain

Kun: あめ、 あま-、 -さめ

On: ウ

Variants: 雨 (かんむり) 	top of kanji



  • 犬 / 犭 (いぬ, ケン) (4/3 strokes)
dog

Kun: いぬ、 いぬ-

On: ケン

Variants: 犭 (へん) left side of the kanji


  • 王 (おう) (4 strokes)
king radical, rule, magnate

On: オウ、 -ノウ


  • 玉 (たま) (5 strokes)
ball, jewel / jewelry

Kun: たま、 たま-、 -だま

On: ギョク


  • 石 (いし) (5 strokes)
stone

Kun: いし

On: セキ、 シャク、 コク

Variants: 石 (へん) left side of the kanji


  • 力 (ちから) (2 strokes)
power radical, strength, strong, strain, bear up, exert

Kun: ちから

On: リョク、 リキ、 リイ


  • 衣/衤 (ころも) (6/5 strokes)
garment, clothing / clothes, dressing

Kun: ころも、 きぬ、 -ぎ

On: イ、 エ

Variants: 石=衤(へん) left side of the kanji


  • 弓 (ゆみ) (3 strokes)
bow ( in archery, violin )

Kun: ゆみ

On: キュウ

Variants: 弓(へん) left side of the kanji


  • 竹/⺮ (たけ) (6 strokes)
bamboo

Kun: たけ

On: チク

Variants: ⺮ (かんむり)	on the top of kanji


  • 又 (また) (2 strokes)
again, right hand, on the other hand

Kun: また、 また-、 また.の-

On: ユウ


  • ⽁ / 攵 (のぶん) (4 strokes)
action radical, folding chair radical, strike, activity, to strike, hit

On: ホク

Variants: ⽁ (つくり), 攵 (つくり) on the right side of the kanji


  • 夂 (ふゆがしら) (3 strokes)
winter radical, to follow, late, delayed

Kun: しゅう

On: チ


  • 示/礻 (しめす) (5/4 strokes)
show on an altar radical, altar, festival, religious service, indicate, point out, express, display

Kun: しめ.す

On: ジ、 シ

Variants: 示=礻 (へん) the left side of the kanji


  • 酉 (とり) (7 strokes)
bird radical, wine / alcohol, sake jar, bird, west, sign of the bird, 5-7PM, tenth sign of Chinese zodiac

Kun: とり

On: ユウ

Variants: 酉 (へん) left side of the kanji


  • 囗 (くに) (3 strokes)

(not to be confused with mouth radical 口)

box, or enclosure radical

On: イ、 コク

Variants: 囗 = (かまえ) enclose the kanji
  • 禾 (いね) (5 strokes)
grain radical, two-branch tree radical

Kun: いね

On: カ

Variants: 禾 = (へん) left side of the kanji


  • 广 (間/ま) (3 strokes)
building / house on a cliff radical, slanting roof

On: ゲン

Variants: 广 = (たれ) Radicals which "hang down"


  • 疒 (病/やまい) (5 strokes)
sickness radical / trailing sickness radical

Kun: や.む

On: ダク、 ニャク、 ソウ、 ジョウ、 シツ

Variants: 疒 = (たれ) Radicals which "hang down"


  • 巾 (きん/はば) (3 strokes)
cloth radical, towel, hanging scroll, width,

Kun: おお.い、 ちきり、 きれ

On: キン、 フク

Variants: 巾 (へん) 	left side of the kanji


  • 尸 (かたしろ, シ) (3 strokes)
flag, corpse radical, remains

Kun: かたしろ

On: シ

Variants: 尸 = (たれ) Radicals which "hang down"


  • 寸 (すん) (3 strokes)
inch (2.25 cm)/sundial, measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little, small degree radical

On: スン

Variants: 寸 (つくり) on the right side of the kanji


Table of kanji radicals

Table key

Position category:

  • へん (hen) - left ◧ - radical forms the left component of a kanji.
  • つくり (tsukuri) - right ◨ - radical forms the right component of a kanji.
  • かんむり (kanmuri) - top ⊤ - radical forms the top component of a kanji.
  • あし (ashi) - bottom ⊥ - radical forms the bottom component of a kanji.
  • かまえ (kamae) - wrap ⿴ - radical encloses the other kanji components.
  • たれ (tare) - top-left ⿸ - radical forms the left and top components of a kanji.
  • にょう (nyou) - bottom-left ⿺ - radical forms the left and bottom component of a kanji.
  • Either left or right ◫ - radical can form either the left or right component of a kanji.

Notes

  • This is a simplified list, so the reading of the radical is only given if the kanji is used on its own.
  • Example kanji for each radical are all jōyō kanji, but some examples show all jōyō (ordered by stroke number) while others were from the Chinese radicals page with non-jōyō (and Chinese-only) characters removed.
  • No radicals with more than 12 strokes are listed as they are not as common and can all be formed from the other components.
  • The radicals are listed in the same basic order that the Kanji radicals are listed except for the two and three-stroke radicals which are in a more visual order.

Table

More information Radical, Stroke count ...

Other combinations

Variations of this table

Many other combinations could realistically be called a simplified table of kanji radicals, here are a few examples.

  • 䒑 could replace both 丷 and 艹
  • ⺈ could be merged with 刀 or 勹 (not commonly used as a radical by itself)
  • 聿 or 書 could be used instead of ⺻

Entries with an upside-down exclamation mark (¡) are possibly made up "radicals," meaning only one online dictionary was found to use them (Tangorin Online).

Possible additions: (Note that the examples below show all the jōyō kanji examples)

More information Radical, Stroke count ...

List of radicals that form common jōyō kanji and are a part of the Table of Japanese kanji radicals page but do not appear here. All jōyō kanji examples for each radical are listed.

More information Radical, Strokes ...

Radicals ordered by frequency

With frequency considered to be the amount of kanji where the radical or its variants can be found as a visual component.[4]

  • Variants of the same radical are separated by forward slashes (for example 彐/ヨ/⺕)
  • The first radical on the list (口) is the most frequent and can be seen in 2,839 kanji
  • The last radical on the list (斉) is the least frequent and can be seen in 5 kanji
List of kanji radicals by frequency
口, 一, 丿/ノ, 丨, 日, 木, ハ/八/丷, 二, 丶, 土, 十, 田, 艹/艸/草/䒑, 目, 亠, 冂, 大, 小/⺌/⺍, 月, 水/氵, 儿, 勹, 厶, 幺, 冖, 人/亻/𠂉/𠆢, 又, 匕, 王, 金, 手/扌, 貝, 宀, 厂, 虫, 糸, 女, 亅, 言, 止, 立, 心/忄/㣺, 山, 乙, 彐/ヨ/⺕, 尸, 廾, 卜, 夂, 戈, 冫, 禾, 隹, ⺮/竹, 火/灬, ⻌/辶, 广, 寸, 米, 攵, 凵, 几, 罒, 刀/刂/⺈, 士, 白, 囗, 石, 巾, 車, ⺤/爪, 匚, 力, 彡, 工, 皿, 夕, 衣/衤, 足, 弓, •⻏, 子, 干, 已, 豆, ⻖•, 耳, 門, 方, 馬, 卩, 彳, 斤, 頁, 雨, 比, 羽, 羊, 酉, 虍, 豕, 里, 欠, マ, 勿, 殳, 牛, 西/覀/襾, 氏, 矢, 示, 艮, 甘, 耂/老, 自, 辛, 疋, 丬/爿, 示/礻, 戸, 長, 見, 臣, 犬/犭, 用, 九, 舟, 予/矛, 而, 歹, 冊, 弋, 巴, 音, 穴, ⺻/聿/書, 食, 至, 入, 缶, 生, 角, 元, 乃, 廴, 尢, 父, 走, 辰, 世, 川, 疒, 亡, 文, 也, 母, 毋, 癶, 高, 行, 舌, 谷, 青, 身, 斗, 品, 五, 免, 屯, 皮, 赤, 井, 毛, 气, 血, 無, 首, 岡, 啇, 斉

The 79 Radicals

A simplification used in "The Kanji Dictionary",[5] "The Learner's Kanji Dictionary," "Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Surnames and How to Read Them", and in "Kanji & Kana."[6]

More information Strokes, Radical ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Free Online Kanji Radical Dictionary. KanjiNetworks. Retrieved on 2015-05-12.
  2. [2]
    Introduction to Japanese kanji!. KANJI-Link. Retrieved on 2015-05-12.
  3. [3]
    Kanjidamage. Kanjidamage. Retrieved on 2015-05-12.
  4. [4]
    "RADKFILE/KRADFILE". EDRDG. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  5. [5]
    Wolfgang Hadamitzky; Kimiko Fujie-Winter (15 April 1996). 漢字熟語字典. Tuttle Publishing. pp. 2–. ISBN 978-0-8048-2058-5.
  6. [6]
    Radical tables. Hadamitzky.de. Retrieved on 2015-05-12.
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