This guide presents 25 selected components with example characters and common associations. It is an editorial selection, not an official or frequency-ranked list. Example HSK 1 labels use the vocabulary data bundled with this site, whose original source and version are not recorded. Component associations are memory aids, not reliable rules for deducing meaning or pronunciation.
Represents human beings, relationships, pronouns, and human actions. Known as the "standing person" radical (单人旁).
HSK 1: 你 (you), 他 (he), 们 (plural), 会 (can), 住 (to live), 做 (to do)
Known as the "three drops of water" (三点水). Denotes liquids, rivers, washing, and moisture.
HSK 1: 没 (not have), 渴 (thirsty), 汉 (Chinese/Han), 洗 (to wash)
Depicts an open mouth. Used for eating, drinking, speaking, vocalizing, and grammatical modal particles.
HSK 1: 吃 (eat), 喝 (drink), 叫 (call), 听 (listen), 吗 (question), 呢 (aspect)
Depicts a kneeling woman. Associated with female relatives, beauty, and foundational family roles.
HSK 1: 她 (she), 妈 (mother), 姐 (older sister), 妹 (younger sister), 好 (good)
Depicts a tree with branches and roots. Relates to wooden furniture, plants, structures, and tools.
HSK 1: 本 (book/classifier), 机 (machine/airplane), 杯 (cup/glass), 桌 (table)
Originated as a circle with a dot. Governs units of time, daylight, calendar terms, and bright conditions.
HSK 1: 明 (bright/tomorrow), 时 (time/hour), 昨 (yesterday), 晚 (evening), 早 (early)
Can represent the lunar month or the human body/internal organs (known as the flesh radical 肉月旁).
HSK 1: 月 (month), 期 (period/week), 朋 (friend), 脑 (brain)
Simplified from 言. Relates to spoken communication, linguistics, reading, discourse, and politeness.
HSK 1: 说 (to speak), 话 (words/speech), 语 (language), 请 (please/invite), 认 (recognize)
Always appears at the top of a character (草字头). Denotes plants, flowers, vegetables, herbs, and teas.
HSK 1: 茶 (tea), 菜 (vegetable/dish), 苹 (apple), 药 (medicine)
Known as 走之旁. Wraps around the left and bottom, indicating physical walking, moving, or spatial proximity.
HSK 1: 这 (this), 进 (to enter), 远 (far), 送 (to see off/give), 边 (side)
Vertical variant of 心 (竖心旁). Represents emotions, mental state, cognitive intent, and feelings.
HSK 1: 想 (think/miss), 怎 (how), 快 (happy/fast), 怕 (afraid)
Simplified from 食 (食字旁). Relates to culinary items, meals, hunger, and eating establishments.
HSK 1: 饭 (rice/meal), 饱 (full), 馆 (restaurant/establishment)
Depicts a shelter with eaves. Relates to dwellings, homes, rooms, safety, and domestic structures.
HSK 1: 家 (family/home), 字 (character), 安 (peaceful/quiet), 客 (guest)
Known as 提手旁. Represents physical hand movements, grasping, hitting, holding, and searching.
HSK 1: 打 (to hit/call), 找 (to search), 拿 (to hold), 推 (to push)
Pictograph of an eye rotated vertically. Associated with looking, seeing, eyes, and visual attention.
HSK 1: 看 (to look/read), 见 (to see), 睛 (pupil/eye)
Simplified from 糹 (绞丝旁). Pertains to textiles, tying, connecting, strings, and dyed colors.
HSK 1: 给 (to give), 红 (red), 绿 (green), 细 (fine/thin)
Appears as 火 or as four bottom dots (四点底 灬). Indicates heat, cooking, combustion, and warmth.
HSK 1: 热 (hot), 点 (point/order), 然 (so/thus)
Depicts a two-panel door. Characters with this radical relate to entrances, openings, and enclosures.
HSK 1: 问 (to ask), 间 (room/interval), 关 (to close)
Shows a plant emerging from the ground. Relates to earth, locations, terrain, and building grounds.
HSK 1: 在 (at/in), 地 (ground/particle), 块 (piece/currency)
Pictograph of a baby with arms outstretched. Common in children terms and noun suffixes.
HSK 1: 字 (character), 学 (study), 孩 (child), 杯子 (cup)
Combines a person above footsteps. Indicates locomotion, getting up, stepping, and departing.
HSK 1: 起 (to rise), 走 (to walk), 跑 (to run)
Known as 立刀旁 (standing knife). Always on the right side. Relates to cutting, dividing, and sharpness.
HSK 1: 分 (minute/divide), 到 (arrive), 别 (don't/other)
Simplified from 金. Indicates metallic objects, coins, clocks, weapons, and manufactured tools.
HSK 1: 钱 (money), 钟 (clock), 铁 (iron)
Known as 双耳旁 (double ears). On the left, it represents terrain/mounds; on the right, it represents towns/cities.
HSK 1: 那 (that), 都 (all/both), 院 (hospital/courtyard)
Depicts a human standing with arms and legs outstretched to represent scale or majesty.
HSK 1: 大 (big), 太 (too/excessive), 天 (sky/day)