The Chinese Radical: 金


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Meaning
gold, metal    金

Explanation This radical is always on the left side of a character.

Used in these characters:
JLPT HSK 1
coin, money, unit of weight (approx. 5 gram)
qián
Left: metal/gold 钅(= = Covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: 2 halberds
The metal of two halberds is enough for a coin of the weight 1 qián = 5g
JLPT HSK 1
bell, clock, time at clock, handleless cup
zhōng
Left: metal 钅(= Covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: center/middle (here: Top view of a bell mounted on an axle)
Made of metal and mounted on an axle is: the bell .
JLPT HSK 2
flawed, mistake, wrong, interlocking, to polish
cuò
Left: metal/gold 钅(= Covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: former times (Together in the sun we think of old times.)
(Today's steel is better) The metal of former times was flawed.
JLPT HSK 2
lead (chemical element)
qiān
Left: metal 钅/ (= Covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: variation of valley
(Found in lower places because of its weight.) The metal in the valley is: lead.
JLPT HSK 3
silver, silver-colored
yín
Left: metal/gold 钅/ (= Covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: "not good" ('good' would be , but here the accent is missing, thus 'not good')
(Gold would be better!) This metal is not good: It is only silver!
JLPT HSK 3
iron (metal)
tiě
Left: metal 钅/ (Covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: to lose (I emphasize (= accent ) it is the husband who loses) [husband = big person with extra-caring arms ]
The metal, you can safely lose (due to its little value) is iron.
JLPT HSK 3
forge, to discipline
duàn
Left: metal 钅/, right: section/segment (The staircase 三 in the cliff were cut in sections with a battle axe in a hand )
Use iron to make a ladder or a battle axe for your hand, by: forgeing.
JLPT HSK 4
needle, pin, injection
zhēn
Left: metal 钅(= Covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: ten (here: needle with a thread )
Made of metal is this needle.
JLPT HSK 4
mirror, lens
jìng
Left: metal 钅/, right: actually (to stand and a variation of the traditional: 'to see': 見, therefore: "to practically see") ['to see' 見 is typically simplified to ]
It is made of metal and when standing in front, you can practically see yourself: It is a mirror.
JLPT HSK 4
bond (chemistry), (door lock) key, key(keyboard)
jiàn
Left: metal 钅/, right: build/erect (You have a brush in your hand and need to move for building.)
The 'metal' in building can be a bond or key.
JLPT HSK 4
steel
gāng
Left: metal 钅/, right: hill (=岡 Here as a bloomery hearth for steel smelting, in which iron ore and charcoal were stacked alternately as a hill).
The metal from this hill (= oven) is steel.
JLPT HSK 4
key
yào, yuè
Left: metal 钅(=), right: moon (here: image of a key, where the 3 horizontal lines are coding bits)
He is made of metal and has a coding: the key.
JLPT HSK 4
gold, money, metal
jīn
At top cover , below earth and two gold nuggets
Covered by earth: two gold nuggets.
JLPT HSK 5
to melt (metal), to cancel, to sell, to spent, bolt
xiāo
Left: metal 钅(= covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: alike/resemble (Small bodies are alike.)
Metal and alikes can be melted, sold or used as a bolt.
JLPT HSK 5
to lock up, to lock
suǒ
Left: metal 钅/, right: small & money
It's made of metal to lock-up your small change: The lock.
JLPT HSK 5
(small) bell
líng
Left: metal 钅/, right: order/command (bell's body , bell's bolt )
Metal chiming on command is a bell.
JLPT HSK 5
pot, pan, boiler
guō
Left: metal 钅/, right: chat, gossip (Here: a pot on a rack )
Made of metal and put on a rack: the pot or pan.
JLPT HSK 5
chain
liàn
Left: metal 钅/, right: link, combine (Vehicles /車 and 'movement' are linked)
These [parts of] metal are linked as a chain.
JLPT HSK 5
to fish with a hook and bait
diào
Left: metal 钅/; right: ladle (here: hook with bait )
Made of metal is the hook: for fishing.
JLPT HSK 6
copper (chemistry)
tóng
Left: metal 钅/, right: the same (All container have only one opening and it is the same)
(Metals differ, but no other is red.) The [red] metal that is always the same is: copper.
JLPT HSK 6
acute, intense, sharp, penetrating, pointed
ruì
Left: metal 钅(= covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: money transfer (Going out from my elder brother money transfer takes place) [ = big mouth on legs ]
The money is transfered by my elder brother acutely and intense.
JLPT HSK 6
to press down, to suppress, garrison, small town
zhèn
Left metal 钅/, right: really, truly (The ten eyes see that the table is truely real.)
(Because of the weight) If the metal is really true, it presses down. (like a garrison)
JLPT HSK 6
brocade, embroidered work, bright
jǐn
Left: metal 钅, right: silk (= white cloth )
With gold stitched/embroided silk is brocade.
JLPT HSK 6
to engrave, inscribed motto
míng
Left: metal 钅/, right: name, reputation 名 (In the evening they talk about people's reputation.)
In metal the name is written by: engraving.
JLPT HSK 6
royal, imperial, to respect, to admire
qīn
Left: gold, metal 钅/, right: lack (A yawning person is lacking sth.)
Gold is lacking [in the sense of: "He takes our money"], but we respect the emperor.
JLPT HSK 6
to hook, to sew, to crochet
gōu
Left: 钅/, right: hook, sketch (= two hooks , in engagement)
Made of metal and for hooking: The hook.
JLPT HSK 6
nail, to pin up, sew on
dīng, dìng
Left: metal 钅/, right: nail
A metal nail.
JLPT HSK 6
to spread, lay out, cover, place to sleep
pū, pù
Left: metal 钅/, right: just now (A hand for holding an item is what I need just now)
(think of a metal rake) Using metal you can just now spread or lay out things.
JLPT HSK 6
hold in the mouth, harbor (feelings), title
xián
Outside: to go , inside: metal 钅/
(developed from a snaffle and bridle) When [the horse] is going, it holds this metal in the mouth.
JLPT HSK 6
mirror, reflection, to inspect, to review
jiàn
Top: knife/to cut, half bamboo (Here: reflection), bottom: metal (covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets )
The knife appears like a half bamboo in the metal that reflects as a mirror.
JLPT HSK 6
point of a spear, edge of a tool, vanguard
fēng
Left: metal 钅/ (covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: sharp (sitting cross-legged on the top of growing plant , like 'bee' 蜂)
This metal is sharp on the top: The point/edge or vanguard.
JLPT HSK 6
to cast or found metals
zhù
寿
Left: metal 钅/, right: long life 寿 (two skillful hands & are needed for Sushi 寿 and you will have a long life.)
It is metal and has a long life: casted metal.
JLPT HSK 6
paper money, banknote, dollar bill, to copy
chāo
Left: metal, gold, money 钅/, right: few/little (A small stroke is too few)
(In terms of weight) The money becomes less: as paper money.
JLPT HSK 6
to drill, bore, auger, dig into (studies), diamond
zuān, zuàn
Left: metal 钅(= covered in the ground are 2 gold nuggets ), right: fortune telling (here: drill | with handle - over a stone )
Made of metal is the drill over the stone: and drills.
JLPT HSK 6
hammer, to hammer into shape, weight
chuí
Left: metal 钅, right: suspend, hang down (A vehicle 車 with a loose tire that almost drops off)
Made of metal and hanging (i.e. in a bell) is its clapper or: a hammer.
JLPT HSK 6
calcium (chemistry, Ca)
gài
Left: metal 钅, right: beggar, alms 丐 (His actions are correct , but like with a hook he gets people's money: The beggar.)
(An alkaline earth metal, but not silvery). The metal for poor persons/beggars, is the calcium.
JLPT HSK 6
to inlay, to embed, ridge, border
xiāng
Left: metal 钅/, right: to help, assist (For covering both (two pieces ) wells with cloth , I need help!)
(related to the stability) Metal can be an assistance, if it is embedded as an inlay.
JLPT HSK 6
blunt (i.e. knife), stupid
dùn
Left: metal 钅/, right: barracks (On fertile ground, where growing shoots pierced the ground they built a barracks.)
(Due to the constant use) The metal in the barracks becomes blunt.
JLPT HSK 6
to corrode, to rust
xiù
Left: metal 钅/, right: outstanding (Rice plants as big as a pregnancy belly are: outstanding!)
Metal is outstanding, but it corrodes.
JLPT HSK 6
to engrave, carve, to chisel away at
qiè
Left: metal 钅/, right: contract (marked sticks were in parts carved with a sword in big signs and rejoined, at fulfillment of: the contract.)
Into the metal the contract is engraved.
JLPT HSK 6
stingy

Top: simplification of gold or squeeze in (A husband between persons (= ) is squeezed.) [cf. traditional 嗇], bottom: return, revolve
When the 'gold/money' is (steadily) revolved, this guy is stingy.
JLPT no HSK
button, knob
niǔ
Left: metal 钅/, right: ugly (simplified from "alcoholic devil" 醜 here: button + in button hole ユ)
The metallic button in a buttonhole ユ.
JLPT no HSK
armed escort, throwing weapon, dart
biāo
Left: metal 钅/, right: ticket, bank note (In the west 覀/西 you show your ticket) [West: 西 = Under the horizon the sun sinks at the sunset in the west]
He is (armed with) metal and until sunset 西 he shows himself: the bodyguard.
JLPT no HSK
tin (chemistry), to bestow, confer, grant

Left: metal 钅/, right: warming sun
This metal has such a low melting point (231°C), that almost the warming sun can melt it: tin.
JLPT no HSK
your (honorific), [historic weight 30 catties], great
jūn
Left: gold, metal 钅/, right: well-distributed 匀 (a ladle with sth. in for both )
Like gold, such well-balanced are: "your honor".
JLPT no HSK
pound (sterling)
bàng
Left: metal 钅/, right: one side, beside ([The servants] are in one direction (side) of the emperor [modified]: at his side.)
The metal at my side (for weighing) is the pound (sterling)
JLPT no HSK
to shovel, to remove, spade, to root up
chǎn
Left: metal, gold 钅/, right: to give birth, produce
(At gold mining:) To make the metal be 'born', you need a shovel.
JLPT no HSK
cone, awl, to bore
zhuī
Left: metal 钅/, right: bird
Use metal to make a hole like a bird (= the woodpecker) that is: a drilled cone bore.
JLPT no HSK
a saw, stapling or cramping broken pieces together
jū, jù
Left: metal 钅/, right: reside, live (Where the buttock [side view] becomes old , he has his residence.)
It's made of metal and you use it where you reside: a saw.
JLPT no HSK
uranium (chemistry, U)
yóu
Left: metal 钅/, right: cause, reason (The seedling/sprout in the field has its reason.)
The metal that breaks like a sprout out of its husk is: uranium.
JLPT no HSK
clang of metals, clash, small gong
zhēng
Left: metal 钅/, right: dispute/fight (bent person with a stick in hand looking for dispute)
The metal cause in a dispute a clang of metals.
JLPT no HSK
gong
luó
Left: metal , right: to sift (with the net 罒 to sift until evening , here: bell's body 罒 and bell's bolt )
Made of metal and with a bell's body and bolt: A gong.
JLPT no HSK
aluminum (chemistry: Al)

Left: metal 钅/, right: pitch-pipe (Here: cross-section of two aluminum profiles)
The metal for aluminum profiles is: Aluminum.
JLPT no HSK
encourage, endeavor, to cut, to strive
zhāo
Left: metal 钅/, right: knife, to cut
The metal became a knife to cut. Therefore it was: "encouraged".
JLPT no HSK
pincers, pliers, tongs, claw (of animal), to clamp
qián
Left: metal 钅/, right: sweet (image of an open mouth 廿 with something sweet between teeth)
Made of metal and it can hold sth. like with teeths 廿, the: pinchers.
JLPT no HSK
sodium (chemistry)

Left: metal 钅/, right: inside (The included person is inside.)
(The pure sodium oxidizes very quickly and must constantly be stored in e.g. oil) The metal that is (always) 'inside' is: sodium.
JLPT no HSK
anchor
máo
Left: metal 钅/, right: sprout, seedling (The 'grass' on the field are actually the seedlings.)
The metal seedling is the: anchor.
JLPT no HSK
zinc (chemistry)
xīn
Left: metal 钅/, right: bitter, (of taste) hot
The metal with the pronounciation 'xīn' like at 'bitter' is: zinc.
JLPT no HSK
a hoe, to hoe or dig, to weed, get rid of
chú
Left: metal 钅/, right: help, support, help 助 (Further power helps.)
Metal, that helps, is the: hoe.
JLPT no HSK
small earthenware plate or basin, a monk's alms bowl

Left: metal 钅/, right: root, origin (The tree comes out of the roots as origin and becomes a book)
Metal can originally be used for: (alm) bowls.
JLPT no HSK
weight unit =1/24 Liang = 2 or 3 grams
zhū
Left: metal 钅/, right: vermilion (A branch of a young tree has sth. red =apple?)
(For not getting lost due to the small size:) This metal weight is vermilion: a zhū.
JLPT no HSK
hairpin
chāi
Left: metal 钅/, right: fork [hand with fork ]
The metal fork serves as: a hairpin.
JLPT no HSK
large ancient bell
duó
Left: metal 钅/, right: vertical (A hand vertically over earth )
It is made of metal and rises vertically: the large ancient bell.
JLPT no HSK
manacle, shackles, fetters
kào
Left: metal 钅/, right: to check, verify (From the ground with a stick the seeweed is checked.)
(The user wants to escape) This metal will be tested: the manacle (handcuff).
JLPT no HSK
kettle, cauldron

Top: father (.. has a stick in his hand ), bottom: gold, metal
Daddy uses metal to make a kettle.
JLPT no HSK
potassium
jiǎ
Left: metal 钅/, right: armor, shell (The root shoot cracks its shell/husk )
(when using as fertilizer:) The 'metal' that cracks the shell of the seedling: is potassium.
JLPT no HSK
sickle, scythe
lián
广
Left: metal 钅/, right: cheaply-priced 廉 (here: image of a sickle 广, combine [A hand holding two rice plants ])
Made of metal is the sickle 广, which cuts combined (plant's bundles): The sickle.
JLPT no HSK
(symbol of prosperity & wealth)
xīn
3
Tree times metal, gold
Triple gold for: prosperity!
JLPT no HSK
bracelet, armband
zhuó
Left: metal 钅/, right: larva, caterpillar 蜀 (It has a 'net' 罒 for enwrapping . This insect is: the larva)
This metal is bent like a caterpillar: the bracelet.
JLPT no HSK
barium (chemistry)
bèi
Left: metal 钅/, right: money /貝
Metal with the pronounciation 'bèi' as used at 'money' is: barium.
JLPT no HSK
-plated, to plate, galvanize, coating

Left: metal 钅/, right: degree, measure (In the house 广 is an object 廿 with which the hand measures x-times the degrees.)
(For coating, you need to dip several times) Into the metal up to a certain degree, when: plating.
JLPT no HSK
restrain, to stop, obstinate disease

Left: metal 钅, right: hard, solid (Many things [i.e. vegetable, roots] with age get hard.)
As metal is hard, it can restrain.
JLPT no HSK
tinkling of small bells
qiāng
Left: metal 钅/, right: commander-in-chief (A simple bed , a hand reaching down and a skillful hand : This makes a commander)
The metal is a 'commander', if it is: a bell.

Radicals are shown here that are similar either in appearance or meaning.

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