THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTERS.

would lead to the erroneous impression that pigs under a roof

stituent parts

was the

19

original notion to be conveyed; but a Chinese authority, noticed

Dr. Schott, makes the figure below to consist of the character jin

by

yv 'man'

placed in three different positions, and this would at once suggest the idea of

a family t.
53. The elementary figures or characters are technically termed radicals
and primitives. The radicals, which were formerly about five hundred in
number, are now reduced to two hundred and fourteen; the primitives
to about one thousand seven hundred in common use.
These, with

amount

the radicals and the characters compounded with both classes, include nearly
all the characters existing in Chinese.

The

denominated keys; but the term

consider their meaning and use.
They
include the names of simple objects, natural and artificial, and serve as
generic heads for classes of characters; and, in the absence of an alphabet,
they are employed as an index to the whole language, just as an alphabet is
54.

radicals

is

radicals have been sometimes

when we

very suitable

used in European tongues.

The Chinese term

55.

or

classifier.'

They

'

-^

^j|)

number

have given them below under

recommend the student

them

ts-pu

are arranged according to the

We

to form them.

for the radicals is

this

to use his best efforts to acquire

character-class

of strokes required

arrangement, and

them

so as to write

correctly.

TABLE OP THE RADICALS.

Of the two numbers given after each radical, the former represents
the number of characters extant under that radical, and the latter the number of those in common use. The words in brackets show the position of the
Note.

(Com.) means that the radical

radical in its derivatives.

mon

The

word.

asterisk

marks those

radicals

is

in use as a

com-

which are frequently found in

compounds.

Formed with one

yl*

1.

2.

kwan

'one, the same' (various). 44. 16.

'perpendicular' (through). 22.

This radical
3.

4.

is

5.

(_

6.

'a curve, a sweep to the

yi 'a crooked

ku 'a hooked
t See Dr.

line, one;'

|E| when used

left' (various).

" Chinesische

as a stop or dot.

24. 8.

a horary character. 42.

stroke' (various).

Schott's

2.

used as a sign of the repetition of a character.

chil 'a point,' also called tien

/ pi

stroke.

8.

20. 3.

Sprachlehre." 4to. Berlin, 1857, p, 22.

n.

2.

20

THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTERS.

Formed with two

7.

strokes.

'two' (com.) (encloses, above, below). 31.

<$r

8.

-I

9.

yl Jfo

no

ted,

'

9.

signification is given of this radical, (above).

a man' (com.) (above).

Its contr.

form

39. 10.

4 on

the

left

always.

800. 141.

I0

'

fi n

u. /\fi
12.

13.
14.
15.

"J

*~~*

man walkmg'

n,

17.

(obs.) (below).

29.5.

&mn<7 'a

mi

desert,

an empty space'

'to cover' (obs.) (above). 31.

icicle' (obs.) (left).

Jean 'a receptacle' (obs.) (encloses).

'to

wrap up, to envelop'

21.

K* pi

22.

[_ fang

J-*

25.

p pti

27.

~Jj

163. 19.

first.

66. 4.

first.

'a chest' (obs.) (encloses). 65.

shi 'ten' (com.)

(various

tsi

378.33.

20. 2.

hi 'to hide' (obs.) (encloses).

24.

26.

'a spoon' (right).

JJ).

first.

(obs.) (encloses).

The dash should be written

24. 3.

l$* 'strength' (com.) (below or right).

/"t pan

23. f

4.

'aknife; a sword '(corn.) (below, or right in this form

The hook should be written

20.

51. 5.

2.

^* <a table, a bench' (encloses, right, below). 40.

/Jtau*

j\

(obs.) (encloses).

51. 16.

The hook should be written

19.

52. 14.

'eight' (com.) (below). 45. 12.

^ ping* 'an

1 6.

18.

&

'to enter' (com.) (above).

/\P&
[

'

4.

18. 3.

below). 56.

n.

'to divine' (above,

right). 46. 4.

'a seal' (obs.) (right, or below in this form

P). 39.

hdn 'a

shelter' (obs.) (hangs

over).

128.

8.

This

changed with radical 53.

28.

^ meu 'crooked, perverse'

29.

J(^

yiti 'the

(obs.) (above).

hand; again' (com.)

41. 2.

(right, below).

92. 12.

is

7.

often inter-

THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTERS.

Formed with
30.
31.
32.

k'eit*

'a,

[J

hwiil* 'an enclosure'

mouth' (com.)

-4-

t'u* 'earth,

soil'

three strokes.

1047. 128.

below).

(left,

(obs.) (encloses).

(com.)

(left,

-j^

34.

//

35.

119. 16.

under). 579. 56.

170 and 150 are used instead of

33.

this.

12.

shul 'to walk slowly' (obs.) (below). 24.

38.
39.

If nu* 'a woman'

(com.)

(left

-+- ts&* 'a son' (com.) (below,

40. *-*-*

mien* 'a roof

(obs.) (above).

below). 41.

249. 52.
or Chinese foot' (com.) (right or

n.

siau 'small' (com.) (above, combined). 32.

/C

7C

Jt,

./Lj

(com.)
44.

^^

(left).

or 2/*^ 'crooked-leg' (obs.);

67.

47-

48.

shan 'a mountain' (com.)

or

Jl|

more'

'still

^ Atwz^r

50.

(left,

below).

'a shield' (com.) (combined).

52.

^ yau 'young'

53.

j"yen*

(left,

doubled).

21. 4.

4.

5.

Distinguish this from

21.5.

kin* 'a napkin' (com.)

1 I

above). 637. 17.

'work' (com.) (various). 18.

H&* 'self (com.) (below).

f-* Jean

(left,

i.

ch'uen 'a stream' (com.) (combined). 27.

49.

51.

yiu

2.

45. jr cA'e 'a sprout' (obs.) (above). 39.

I

4.

sin* 'a corpse' (above). 149. 20.

j*

46.

23.

87. 17.

7?

tsdn 'the tenth of a chl

41. ""Jr

43'

36. 6.

or below). 690. 61.

left).

42. J\\

2.

td* 'great' (com.) (above or below). 133.

-fir*

25. 4.

i.

36. <y? si 'evening; darkness' (com.) (various).

37.

Sometimes radicals

'a scholar; a statesman' (com.) (above, right).

chl 'to follow' (obs.) (above).

25<c

21

and

295. 19.

18. 6.

E. G.

5^ kl

'several.'

'a covering' (obs.) (covers). 287.29.

signifies 'already;' sz is a

horary character, '9-11 o'clock A.M.'

sz.

22
54.
55.
56.

THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTERS.

ying

^ff"*

kung

& long journey' (obs.)

'folded hands' (below). 51.

yl 'a dart' (right). 16.

* 'a

57.

p4

kung

58.

EEl

ki, r=l*

59.

-^

60.

bow' (com.)

chi* 'to walk'

;[V*

swi

(right).

(left,

ko* 'a

63.

SM

64.

-==p-

65.

&

ivith four strokes.

(The contr. form on the

'the heart' (com.).

sheil*, contr.

in.

i, 'the hand' (com.).

67.

"-^f

contr.

jfr,

(below).

27. 2.

'to touch' (right).

296. 21.

Contr. form seldom used.

23. 2.

2J-

&&

69.

fr

kin 'an ax; a Chinese pound' (com.)

(right).

70.

J^ fang

'a square, a place' (com.)

83. 9.

71.

^P w*2, in comp. *,

72.

p| ji*

73.

t^l 2/5*

a dry measure, the North Star' (com.) (right).

7]^

76.

fo

(left,

'to speak' (com.) (below,

(left,

below).

owe, to want' (right).

33. 5.

56. 8.

2.

and elsewhere). 455. 51.

and elsewhere). 38.

a month' (com.)

mil* 'wood' (com.)

Jc'ien * 'to

(left).

'wanting, not.' 13.

'the sun; a day' (com.)

H yu* 'the moon;

75.

the

45. 5.

(The contr. form on the

68.

74.

left;

15.

?$w, contr. fy, 'to paint letters' (com.).

<

the

form, below). 1092. 46.

chl 'a branch' (com.) (right).

~&pu*,

left;

form, below or elsewhere). 1077. 142.

'a one-leaved door; a family' (com.) (above).

66.

2.

227. 26.

spear' (com.) (right),

full
"

166. 15.

below).

53. 7.

(obs.) (left).

*, contr. |',

full

62. HF"

2,

or /7, 'a pig's head' (obs.) (above). 26.

sfom 'long hair'

for radical 162.

2.

Formed
6 1.

Used

10. 5.

(left).

(left).

70.

n.

1358. 17.
236.

1 8.

77. Ji|- chl 'to stop at a point' (com.) (various).

91. 9.

13.

THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTERS.

78. fy tal* 'a rotten bone; bad, putrid' (com.)
79.

-^

shu 'to

kill'

232. 12.

(left).

84. 8.

(right).

80. -ffr wti 'not, without' (com.)

(below).

17. 5.

8 1.

H"

pi 'to compare' (com.)

82.

rr.

man

83.

ft*

sM

84.

'"^

k'i 'vapour' (obs.) (right, above). 18.

VJ^

shuwl *,

85.

23

22.

(various).

i.

'hair (not human), fur, feathers' (com.)

'a family' (com.).

15. 3.

Jjjj?-

rafo 'the people'

i.

The

under

is

character in use

'water' (com.) (contr., on the

^

contr.

212. 4.

(left.)

left

full

ski.

is

:S^.

form, below).

1586. 148.
S6.

contr. J)^1, 'fire' (com.) (contr., below; full form,

'/^ ho*,

87.

IK

88.

"^Ifu

^"*, 'claws' (com.) (above). 37.

chati, contr.

n.

'a father' (com.) (above),

Aid% 'to imitate'

89.

-j

90.

-M chwdng

91.

H"

pterc 'a splinter' (left).

92.

^p

?/<$

93.

ffc.

m$ *,

'

(left).

a couch' (obs.)

See radical 97.

7.

2.

50. 2.

(left).

78. 4.

(left).

9. 2.

Cf. radical 211.

'an ox' (com.) (contr., on the

639. 43.

17. 3.

'molar teeth' (com.)

contr. ft

left).

left

full

form, below).

232. 12.
94. -Jr- k'iuen, contr. ^, 'a dog' (com.) (contr., on the

changed

formed with
95.

S/^ hiden 'colour of the sky

96.

^t yu*

97.

ITT

kwa

98. ~~jt web

'a jewel' (com.)

'

fruit of the

'tiles,

100.

/t

dark' (com.) (combined).

(left).

(com.).

sang 'to be born, to

7. 2.

E. G.

473. 25.
(right or

bricks' (com.) (right, below). 173.

~tr kdn 'sweet'

Inter-

five strokes,

melon kind' (com.)

radicals 32, 108,

99.

445. 28.

left).

with radical 153.

and 112.

23. 2.
live' (com.).

23. 2.

2.

left).

56.

2.

Interchanged with

4
101.

THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTERS.

Ji|

yting. 'to use' (com.)

102.

j|

t'ien* 'a field' (com.)

103.

7^ pl 'a piece of cloth;

104.

Jj

105.

y^pu 'to

1 06.

Q^

107.

bark' (com.) (right,

jj^jp'2 'skin;

1 08.

nl*

below).

tl mu*

no.

^* me4

stride' (above).

'the eye' (com.)

'a barbed spear'

contr.

TT]' shi*,

214. 25.
'

114. tAJ jed,

115.

hd*
-^jri-* I

1 1 6.

/t

117.

120.

character

(left,

95.

/JHt ping.

i.

129.16.

or contr. form tml above). 646. 29.

66.3.

(left).

(left,

below).

489. 23.

1, 'an omen from heaven' (com.)

contr.

'grain' (com.)

is

109. 8.

below).

left,

form

is

(left).

below).

(left,

similar to the contr. form of 145.

the print of an animal's foot

a trace' (below).

13. 2.

433. 31.

hiu 'a cave, a hole' (com.) (above). 300. 18.

f U 'to

stand, to establish' (com.)

/pr chu*,

119. ^j^"

above).

(left,

Formed with
118.

5.

65. 8.

(left).

The

'great.'

16. 3.

112. .'pi sA$* 'a stone, a rock' (com.)

113.

|if /&

193. 26.

The common

'dishes' (com.) (below).

shl 'an arrow'

E. G.

2.

a foot' (com.) (below). 16.

'white; clear' (com.)

109.

in. -^P

(left,

'disease '(left). 527. 25.

JU^mlw<7*

n.

(combined),

ml*

contr.

7.

/^V, 'bamboo' (com.) (above). 954. 45.

written

821.71.

102.

six strokes.

'rice (uncooked)' (com.)

-^ m?*, also

(left).

2S

and

-^

(left).

321. 16.

'silk, (threads)'

(com.)

(left,

below).

This radical has also been called sz; prob. for sz

121.

vN* feu 'an earthenware

122.

contr.
[XXj wclng,
j~jj|,

vase'

(left).

PXI, and

\~K\,

78.2.
'a net' (above). 164. 15.

rare.

123.

rfcr.

ydng 'a sheep' (com.)

124.

J\l\

yu 'wings'

(left,

(com.) (various:

above).

157.

9.

above, below, right).

210.

9.

E. G.

THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTERS.

125.

lati' old '(com.)

5g

126.

(above); contr. into

dr 'whiskers; and, yet' (com.). 23.

fflj

in

25

^^

and

^|

23.5.

3.

^
127.
128.

'

liti

a plough handle'

-^F^
"

$r

* 'the ear'
(com.)

172. 16.

below).

20. 2.

printed like

'

yu

the moon.'

f|5 chin 'a subject; a statesman' (com.)

132.

EJ

tsz 'self;

from' (com.) (various).

come

cA? 'to

to' (com.) (below,

133.

jp

J 34-

r*

135.

"gT sM

136.

^4"

137.

-Ct cheu 'a boat' (com.)

^'*^ <a niortar' (various).

'the tongue' (com.)

ch'iten 'to turn the

138.

^^ Tcdn

139.

T&

140.

JrjJ

si
1

disobedient

(left).

and elsewhere).

25. 3.

(left).

35. 6.

back on; to oppose'

198.

(left).

22. 2.

tsait*, contr. -^-4-, 'grass; plants' (com.) (above, in the contr.

1902. 95.

143.

mt hiu

tiger' (obs.) (above).

'blood' (com.)

(left).

115.

9.

(left,

i*, contr.
full

1067. 22.

below).

61. 3.

144. >4~rhing 'to walk]; to do' (com.) (encloses).

k'ati

11.3.

6.2.

limits' (right).

f+[ chdng* 'an insect; a reptile' (com.)

(obs.).

3.

142.

tm

pe

72. 7.

)Ip Mb 'a

146.

'white.'

for

141.

^Z

tl

is

17. 4.

Sometimes used

'colour; appearance' (com.) (right).

form).

145.

form

2.

35-

'

contr.

675.56.

131.

"j[

The

contr. H, 'flesh' (com.) (left, below).

jti,*,

j^J

(left,

and below).

129. ipi yti 'a pencil' (left

130.

85.3.

(left).

54. 8.

'clothing; covering' (com.) (contr. form on the left;

form below ; sometimes half above and half below). 611.36.

yd, also written nu

'aged/ com. 'to examine.'

'to cover over' (obs.) (above).

2 c h& 'this,

he who, &c.'

30. 3.

3 s i 'the west.'

26

THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTERS.

Formed with

kien* 'to

|=j

150.

QM
teti

'a valley'

t^?

152.

.?& shl 'a pig'

r 53-

Z 55-

EJ pei*
Jjj*

cM

below).

(left,

beans' (below,

or below).

'a pearl shell' (com.)

(left,

'flesh colour'
(com.) (left).

below). 278. 46.

32.2.

tseit* 'to walk, to run' (com.) (left).

157.

Jnl teti*, contr. 3, 'the foot, enough' (com.)

158.

J^

60.

69. 5.

141. 5.

(left).

;^r

159.

left).

50. 3.

156.

.,_<

861. 105.

2.

sacrificial vessel;

(left

chl 'reptiles'

55.

(left).

159. 5.

below).

(left,

to speak' (com.)

wooden

'a

151.

154.

corner' (com.)

yen* 'words;

149.

162. 14.

see' (com.) (right, below).

HJ ki& 'a horn; a

148.

seven strokes.

<

shin 'the body; trunk' (com.)

n.

236.

below).

(left,

581. 30.

98. 4.

(left).

..

IB ku*
3fe fin
t -^

'a carriage' (com.)

'bitter,'

(left).

H. C. (com.) (doubled,

161.

h&

s^w'time; an

162.

^^

ch6*, contr.

163.

p^

hour,'

H. C. (com.)

Cf. radical

(various). 16.3.

contr. form).

c.

68.

382. 59.

(left).

/?*, contr. I), 'a city' (com.) (right

called che.

37. 7.

right).

'motion' (obs.)

Sometimes

362.22.

351. 27.

Cf. radical 170.

I

^4-

yi^* 'new

Iffi

wine,'

H. C. (com.)

165. -^j^pien 'to distinguish'

1

66.

Jl ^

'a Chinese mile; a village' (com.) (below). 14.

km*

-^ ch'dng,

169.

170.

mdn*

/ei*,

(left).

803. 46.

contr. E, 'long, old' (com.).

'a door' (com.) (encloses).

'an

contr.

347. 38.

5.

with eight strokes.

'gold; metal' (com.)

1 68.

291. 20.

14. 2.

(left).

formed
167. -ggr

(left).

artificial

jl,

Cf. radical 163.

56.

2.

249. 27.

mound

of earth'

(left c. contr.

form).

27

THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTERS.

J,
171. ij

tai'to reach to'

172.

fcg

173.

Hm
--

i.

13.

(right).

chul* 'short-tailed birds'

yii* 'rain' (com.) (contr. form

75-

^F /*

<n

above).

298. 18.

mien 'the

j|[j

18. 3.

(left).

26. 3.

t so, false' (com.).

Formed with
176.

jgfg*

-s

174. Tnj* tsing 'azure, sky-blue' (com.)

J

234. 17.

(right).

nine strokes.

face' (com.) (left).

i.

67.

*^

177-

178.

179.

&e 'untanned hide, without hair'

.p.

307.5.

(left).

we* 'tanned hide'

fet,

H&

:[fr

101.

(left).

2.

21.1.

'leeks' (various).

80.

181.

2/m 'sound, tone' (com.). 43.

jrqf

E! 2/e* 'the head' (com.) (right).

182.

fung 'wind'

jffil

183.
184.

185.
1

86.

4]^ fl
X

E'

(com.)

'to fly' (com.).

^1-

3.

i.

13.

shl*, contr. g, 'to eat' (com.) (contr. form on the

sheii 'the

fej

head; the chief (com.).

"5& hidng 'fragrance'

nm w^*
ku*

188.

373. 30.

183.

(left).

(com.).

'a horse' (com.)

'a bone' (com.)

(left,

20.

left).

i.

ten strokes.
473. 28.

below).

186.

(left).

Interchanged with radicals

4.

130 and 181.

189.
190.

.8. kau 'high' (com.). 35.

^ piau 'long

i.

hair' (above).

245.

teu 'to fight' (obs.) (encloses).

7.

24.

192. Ipl chdng 'fragrant plants' (below).

193.

p|

ll

'a tripod with crooked feet'

i.

9. i.

(left,

below).

194. J^jl kwel 'a departed spirit, a ghost' (com.)

395. 38.

i.

38.

Formed with
I

3.

74.7.

(left).

142. 4.

28

THE ELEMENTARY CHARACTERS.

Formed with
195.

ftf

eleven strokes.

Interchanged with radicals

'a fish' (com.) (left). 572. 10.

yu

no

and 205.
196.

j^ niau 'a bird

lu 'salt'

197.

|$|t

198.

Iffi lu 'a stag'

199.

^S me 'wheat'

200.

jwifr

'

(com. ) (right). 761.21. Interchanged with radical

(left).

202.

(com.) (above). 106.

(com.)

i.

132.

(left).

nid 'hemp' (com.) (above).

shti 'millet'
(com.) (left).

2O 3-

JE ^

204.

^ffji

35. 3.

strokes.

'black' (com.)

(left,

173.

below).

chi 'to sew, to embroider'

t|j raitogr

(left).

43.

i.

47. 2.

Formed with
205.

Interchanged with radical 120.

9.

~pf hw&ng 'yellow, colour of earth' (com.)

"/^K

80.

45.1.

Formed with twelve

201.

(left).

4.

none in common

9.

use.

thirteen strokes.

'a frog' (com.) (below).

41.

2.

Interchanged with radicals

140, 195, and 212.

206.

207.
208.

IfM ting 'a tripod' (com.).

kit 'a

shu

|nl

'

drum' (com.)

a rat' (com.)

15. i.

(above).

SL P*

210.

ife tit 'to

'* ne nose' (com.) (left).

|||f

chi 'front teeth' (com.)

Mng

i.

50.

adjust, to adorn' (com.) (above).

'a dragon' (com.).

19. 3.

fifteen strokes.

(left).

Formed with

213.

in.

fourteen strokes.

Formed with

212. o3

Interchanged with radical

20 9-

211.

i.

103.2.

(left).

Formed with
~*

47.

163.

3.

sixteen strokes.

25. 2.

life &M?ei 'a tortoise' (com.).

Formed with

25.

i.

Interchanged with radical 205.

seventeen strokes.

214. ijjiyo'ei flute with three holes'

(left).

20.

i.