120 Hanzi Components & Building Blocks (汉字部件)
Master the 120 core Hanzi components (60 Sound Clues + 60 Meaning Clues) with formula breakdowns, interactive 3D flashcards, and decomposition quizzes.
2 strokes (10 components)
Sound clue Dīng (Nail / Person)
Small nail, adult male, phonetic clue for dīng / tīng
Sound clue Nǎi (Then / Be)
Then, thus, sound clue for nǎi / réng
Meaning clue Rén (Human / Behavior)
People, human actions, society
Meaning clue Single Person (Humanity)
Human standing side, people, occupations
Meaning clue Dāo (Knife / Cut)
Blade, knife, cutting, slicing
Meaning clue Standing Knife (Slice / Divide)
Standing knife on right side, cut, carve
Meaning clue Lì (Power / Strength)
Physical strength, labor, exertion
Meaning clue Hǎn (Cliff / Workshop)
Steep cliff, shelter, workshop
Meaning clue Yán (Speech / Words)
Speech, speaking, language, conversation
Meaning clue Mound / Town (Ears radical)
Left side: hill/mound; Right side: city/town
3 strokes (20 components)
Sound clue Yě (Also)
Also, sound clue for yě / tā / chí / dì
Sound clue Wáng (Perish / Lose)
Perish, flee, sound clue for wáng / máng
Meaning clue Kǒu (Mouth / Eating)
Mouth, vocalizing, tasting, openings
Meaning clue Tǔ (Earth / Soil / Land)
Soil, clay, ground, buildings, construction
Meaning clue Nǚ (Woman / Female)
Woman, female, kinship, marriage, maternal
Meaning clue Zǐ (Child / Son / Seed)
Infant, offspring, child, seed
Meaning clue Mián (Roof / Shelter / House)
Roof, shelter, indoor, dwelling, rooms
Sound clue Gōng (Work / Craft)
Carpenter square, phonetic clue for gōng / jiāng / hóng
Meaning clue Guǎng (Broad shelter / Building)
Spacious shelter, hall, broad building
Meaning clue Step (Walking / Movement)
Step with left foot, slow movement, roads
Meaning clue Vertical Heart (Feelings / Mind)
Heart, mind, feelings, emotional state
Meaning clue Hand (Action / Manipulation)
Hand actions, grabbing, holding, manual task
Meaning clue Three Dots Water (Liquid / River)
Water drops, rivers, seas, liquid, wetness
Meaning clue Beast / Canine (Animals)
Dogs, wild beasts, quadrupeds
Meaning clue Silk / Thread (Weaving / Connect)
Silk strands, fabrics, cords, connections
Meaning clue Grass / Plant (Flora / Herb)
Grass, herbs, flowers, vegetation, vegetables
Meaning clue Walk / Movement (Road / Transit)
Walking on path, transit, distance, transport
Meaning clue Gate / Door (Entrance / Portal)
Two-leaf gate, door, portal, entry hall
Meaning clue Food / Eating (Meal / Dining)
Food, grain, eating, nourishment
Sound clue Mǎ (Horse)
Galloping horse with mane, sound clue for mǎ / mā / mà / ma
4 strokes (21 components)
Sound clue Cāng (Barn / Storehouse)
Granary / barn, sound clue for cāng / qiāng / chuāng
Sound clue Fǎn (Opposite / Turn over)
Turn hand over, return, sound clue for fǎn / fàn / bǎn
Sound clue Guài (Decisive / Split)
Decisive, sound clue for kuài / jué / quē
Sound clue Shǎo (Few / Little / Young)
Little, few, young, sound clue for shǎo / shào / miǎo / shā
Sound clue Bā (Cling / Long for)
Cling to, large snake, sound clue for bā / bà / bǎ
Meaning clue Heart (Emotions / Mind)
Heart organ, thoughts, willpower, affection
Meaning clue Hand (Base Hand)
Open palm with five fingers, control, grasp
Meaning clue Rap / Tap (Strike / Action)
Hand holding rod to tap, reform, practice
Meaning clue Axe / Jin (Weight)
Axe for chopping, weight measure
Sound clue Fāng (Square / Direction)
Square, direction, raft, phonetic clue for fāng / fǎng / fàng
Meaning clue Rì (Sun / Day / Time)
Sun, daylight, time, shining, daytime
Meaning clue Moon / Body Flesh (Flesh / Month)
Moon, night, or human body organs (Flesh radical)
Meaning clue Tree / Wood (Timber / Forest)
Tree, timber, wooden objects, plant
Sound clue Qiàn (Yawn / Lack)
Open mouth to yawn/breathe, owe, sound clue for qiàn / kǎn
Meaning clue Fire / Heat (Burn / Flame)
Flames, blaze, cooking heat, warm, light
Meaning clue Cow / Bull (Bovine)
Ox, cow, bull, cattle, farming
Meaning clue King / Jade (Gem / Royal)
Strung jade beads, gemstone, royal treasure
Meaning clue Altar / Spirit (Ritual / Blessing)
Altar, spirits, ceremony, rituals, blessing
Meaning clue See / Observe (Vision / View)
See, vision, meet, perceive, view
Meaning clue Shell / Money (Wealth / Trade)
Cowrie shell money, wealth, finance, commerce
Meaning clue Chē (Cart / Vehicle)
Cart, carriage, vehicle, transportation
5 strokes (28 components)
Sound clue Qiě (Moreover / Ancestral altar)
Ancestral altar tablet, sound clue for qiě / zǔ / zhù / jiě
Sound clue Zhǔ (Host / Master / Lamp flame)
Flame atop lamp stand, master, sound clue for zhǔ / zhù
Sound clue Zhà (Suddenly / For first time)
Suddenly, just now, sound clue for zhà / zuó / zuò
Sound clue Lìng (Order / Command)
Kneeling person receiving decree, sound clue for lìng / líng / lǐng
Sound clue Bāo (Wrap / Bag)
Wrapped fetus in womb, bag, sound clue for bāo / bǎo / páo
Sound clue Gǔ (Ancient / Old)
Passed down 10 generations, sound clue for gǔ / gū / kǔ
Sound clue Zhào (Summon / Call)
Call upon, summon, sound clue for zhào / zhāo / shào / tiáo
Sound clue Kě (Can / Approve)
Mouth approving, sound clue for kě / kè / gē / hé
Sound clue Tái (Platform / Stage)
Platform, stage, sound clue for tái / tài / dǎi / zhì
Sound clue Sī (Manage / In charge)
To take charge, manage, sound clue for sī / cī / sì
Sound clue Yāng (Center / Middle)
Center, middle, sound clue for yāng / yàng / yīng
Sound clue Wèi (Not yet / Branch)
Not yet, young branch, sound clue for wèi / mèi
Sound clue Shēng (Birth / Grow / Life)
Sprout emerging from earth, live, sound clue for shēng / xìng
Meaning clue Field / Farm (Agriculture)
Paddy field with boundary paths, crops
Sound clue Yóu (From / Reason)
Sprout emerging from soil, cause, sound clue for yóu / dí
Sound clue Shēn (Explain / Extend)
Lightning stretching out, extend, sound clue for shēn / shén
Meaning clue Sickness / Disease (Illness / Pain)
Illness, sickness, disease, pain, resting bed
Sound clue Bái (White / Clear)
Sun ray of light, white, sound clue for bái / bǎi / bó
Sound clue Pí (Skin / Leather)
Hand peeling animal hide, sound clue for pí / pō / bō / bèi
Meaning clue Dish / Vessel (Plate / Basin)
Dish, vessel, container, basin, cup
Meaning clue Mù (Eye / Sight / Vision)
Eye organ, seeing, pupil, gaze, glance
Meaning clue Shí (Stone / Rock / Mineral)
Rock, stone, hard mineral, cliff boulder
Meaning clue Grain / Rice (Cereal / Crop)
Standing grain stalk bending with ripe seeds
Meaning clue Lì (Stand / Establish)
Person standing erect upon ground, establish
Meaning clue Net / Trap (Capture / Grid)
Fishing net, trapping, mesh, law net
Meaning clue Clothing / Garment (Apparel)
Garment, clothes, collar, fabric attire
Meaning clue Metal / Gold (Tool / Currency)
Gold, metal, tools, bells, clocks, machinery
Meaning clue Bird / Fowl (Feathered animal)
Long-tailed bird, fowl, beak, feathered creatures
6 strokes (18 components)
Sound clue Jiāo (Cross / Exchange)
Person with crossed legs, interact, sound clue for jiāo / jiào / xiào
Sound clue Hài (Twelfth earthly branch)
Earthly branch Hai, sound clue for hài / gāi / kè
Sound clue Zhào (Omen / Million)
Cracks on oracle bone, omen, sound clue for zhào / tiáo / táo / tiào
Sound clue Gè (Each / Every)
Foot arriving at opening, each, sound clue for gè / gé / luò / kè
Sound clue Tóng (Same / Together)
Same, united voices, sound clue for tóng / dòng
Sound clue Guī (Jade tablet / Fertile soil)
Jade tablet, double earth, sound clue for guī / jiā / wá / xié
Sound clue Sì (Temple / Bureau)
Government office, temple, sound clue for sì / shí / chí / děng
Sound clue Yáo (Emperor Yao / High)
Elevated earth mound, sound clue for yáo / shāo / xiǎo / rào
Sound clue Chéng (Complete / Become)
Halberd weapon securing victory, sound clue for chéng / shèng
Sound clue Zhū (Vermilion / Tree core)
Vermilion red, heart of a tree, sound clue for zhū / shū
Meaning clue Bamboo (Cane / Writing tool)
Bamboo, tubes, flute, baskets, brush pens
Meaning clue Mǐ (Rice / Grain / Food)
Husked rice grains, flour, food grain
Sound clue Yáng (Sheep / Goat)
Goat head with horns, sound clue for yáng / xiáng / yàng
Meaning clue Ěr (Ear / Hearing / Sound)
Ear lobe, listening, hearing, audio senses
Meaning clue Boat / Ship (Vessel / Marine)
Wooden boat, navigation, ship, marine vessel
Meaning clue Insect / Bug (Creature / Worm)
Insects, bugs, worms, reptiles, small critters
Meaning clue Blood (Sacrifice / Life fluid)
Blood drops in sacrificial dish, life fluid
Meaning clue Head / Page (Face / Neck)
Human head, facial profile, neck, book pages
7 strokes (9 components)
Sound clue Duì (Dui trigram / Exchange)
Joyful mouth, exchange, sound clue for duì / shuō / yuè / tuī
Sound clue Féng (Meet / Encounter)
Feet walking in opposite directions meeting, sound clue for féng / fēng
Sound clue Měi (Every / Each)
Mother with hair ornaments, sound clue for měi / mèi / hǎi / méi
Sound clue Fǔ (Just / Courtesy name)
Sprouting plant, courtesy name, sound clue for fǔ / bǔ / pǔ
Sound clue Xiào (Resemble / Small)
Resemble, small flesh, sound clue for xiào / xiāo
Sound clue Liáng (Good / Kind)
Clean husked grain, good, sound clue for liáng / láng / làng
Meaning clue Foot / Leg (Step / Kick)
Foot, leg, running, jumping, kicking
Sound clue Cǎi (Pick / Gather / Color)
Hand picking fruit from tree, sound clue for cǎi / cài
Sound clue Lǐ (Inside / Village / Mile)
Settlement on farmland, inside, sound clue for lǐ / lǐ
8 strokes (9 components)
Sound clue Jīng (Capital / High building)
Towering tower in capital city, sound clue for jīng / liáng / jǐng
Sound clue Shàng (Still / Esteem / Above)
High building with window, esteem, sound clue for shàng / cháng / tǎng
Sound clue Xī (Past / Former)
Days gone by, past, sound clue for xī / cuò / jiè
Sound clue Guǒ (Fruit / Result)
Fruit bearing on tree branch, sound clue for guǒ / kē
Sound clue Zhě (Person / Thing / Suffix)
Person doing an action, sound clue for zhě / zhū / dǔ / shǔ
Sound clue Zhuī (Short-tailed bird)
Short-tailed bird, sound clue for zhuī / cuī / shuí / tuī / nán
Meaning clue Rain / Weather (Clouds / Thunder)
Raindrops falling from clouds, weather, meteorology
Sound clue Qīng (Cyan / Green / Blue / Youth)
Green sprout rising, youth, sound clue for qīng / qǐng / qíng / jìng
Meaning clue Fish / Marine life (Seafood)
Swimming fish, scales, fins, marine seafood