Kanji - Level 8 - Radicals Flashcards
匚
Cage
This radical is a cage because it’s covered on all sides but one (the one open side is where the cage door or gate is). There’s nothing inside this cage because there’s no gate, and whatever was inside has gotten out. I hope it wasn’t rabid…
𠃌
Cape
This is a cape, like the kind a superhero would wear. See how it’s hanging to the side? Imagine tying it around your neck and running around so it flies behind you.
云
Cloud
This is the radical for cloud. See how the cloud is puffy on the bottom but has two lines up top? That’s because a plane flew through it. If humans didn’t invent planes, this cloud radical might look different. Really makes you think, huh?
比
Compare
This radical is made up of two slightly different versions of the spoon radical (which you should already know). Look closely at these two spoons. Compare their differences. Like one of those magazines where you compare two similar pictures. But this time it’s with spoons.
易
Easy
If you have wings, flying to the sun will be easy. If you try to get there with your wingless, human-body it will not be so easy.
穴
Hole
You have a roof on top of what looks like a volcano. What is the roof covering on the top of the volcano? Why, it’s definitely covering the hole at the top. I guess someone thought if they built a roof on the volcano hole, none of the lava could come out.
ユ
Hook
There’s a flat line for where the hand was cut off. In it is a hook like a pirate might have. Yarrrr.
馬
Horse
Don’t confuse this radical with the bird 鳥 radical. It looks similar, with the wing on the bottom and the shape on top, but it doesn’t have a feather sticking out of the top of its head and it has a long, thick neck. So while it moves fast like it has wings, it’s no bird, it’s a horse.
罒
Net
This is a net, spread out over the water. Imagine all the fish you can catch in this net!
釆
Sickle
Most of this radical is just the rice radical, but the top part is something coming to cut the rice from its stalk. That, my friend, is the sickle. See how the rice is still there? That’s because it’s in motion. The sickle is literally doing the cutting RIGHT NOW! (And don’t confuse this with the grain 禾 radical!)
巳
Snake
There’s two ways to remember this one. First, you could look at this and see it’s a coiled up snake. Or, if you want, you can imagine it as a snake head, with its face facing to the right (see its open mouth?). We may use either when learning a kanji, but for now you can pick the one that fits best with your memorization style. Just make sure you get to snake when you see this radical.
*Also note that sometimes the coil isn’t totally completed (where it connects in the middle of the vertical line).
合
Suit
You find a hat on the ground with a mouth as the design on the front. You think it looks weird, but when you put it on, you find it suits you quite well. Imagine yourself feeling not so sure about this hat at first. But, once you put it on, you feel pleasantly surprised.
殳
Weapon
Stick a table on top of a stool and you end up with a very dangerous weapon. Imagine hitting someone with this thing! Or, even better, imagine making someone sit on it. They’d be crushed mentally and emotionally and whatnot. Now that’s a scary weapon.
