The Chinese Radical: 亻




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Meaning
person    亻

Explanation This radical is understood as an identical variant of "person" 人, and shows a person who stands with the legs apart. - This radical has several variation, i.e. a lying person , a sitting 匕 person.

Used in these characters:
HSK 1
another, he or him

Left: person 亻/人, right: also/too 也 (shows a twisted creature, possibly scorpion, snake etc.)
A person twisting like this becomes another.
HSK 1
many, plural marker for persons
men
Left: person 亻, right: gate 门/門
(A single door is not enough.) For the persons you need a gate, if they are many.
HSK 1
you (informal, as opposed to courteous 您)

Left: person 亻, right: thus/therefore 尔 (A lying person appears small 小, that's therefore thus.)
This person is thus you.
HSK 1
to make something, to write or compose, to pretend, to feel
zuò
Left: a person 亻, right: suddenly, unexpectedly 乍 (The saw 乍 fells [the tree] suddenly.)
The person has a saw to make something.
HSK 1
miscellaneous, what, ten in calculations, assorted
shén, shí
Left: person 亻/人, right: ten 十
Ten persons are miscellaneous.
HSK 1
to do, to make, to compose
zuò
Left person 亻, right: therefore, reason 故 (If the old 古 (man) strikes 攵 then with a reason) [to strike 攵/攴 = hand 又 with a stick 卜]
The person has a reason to do sth.
HSK 1
to live, to dwell, to stay, to reside, to stop
zhù
Left: person 亻, right: master 主 (I emphasize 丶, the king 王 is the master.)
A person is the master where he lives.
HSK 1
wait, later, season, expect, visit, weather
hòu
In the middle vertically: stick 丨, left and right: marquis 侯 (The person 人 to whom another person ⺈ with an arrow 矢 bows down, is a marquis.) - Here: ユ as variation of: work, craft 工
When a person takes a stick 丨 to craft/carve 工 it into an arrow, you need to wait (until a later season).
HSK 2
body, form, style, system

Left: person 亻/人, right: root, origin, book 本 (The tree 木 comes out of the roots 一 as origin and becomes a book.)
The person has his roots in the body.
HSK 2
but, yet, however, merely, still
dàn
Left: person 亻, right: sunrise 旦 (The sun 日 is just above the horizon 一)
One person watches the sunrise, but ...
HSK 2
you (courteous), as opposed to informal
nín
At top: "you" (informal speech) 你 (This person 亻is thus/therefore 尔 you [尔= A lying person appears small 小, that's thus/therefore ): The person is thus you.] ), below: heart 心
The informal "you" changes by adding the 'heart' into the formal address: "you".
HSK 2
affair, item, components, clothes, events
jiàn
Left: person 亻, right: cow 牛 (The head of a cow キ with only one horn ノ)
A person comes with a cow, which is his affair.
便
HSK 2
convenient, ordinary, plain, to defecate
biàn, pián
Left: person 亻, right: further/still more 更 (The sun 日 goes with each unit of length 丈 [= big 大 person with wide step] further and more.)
People (like it) furthermore, when it is convenient.
HSK 3
fake, false, to borrow, artificial
jiǎ, jià
Left: person亻, right: (free interpretation: mine/pit) 叚 (In a hole 口 with a ladder 'E' you have the tool コ in your hand 又.)
For persons is the (work in) a mine: false.
HSK 3
to trust, to believe, letter, mail
xìn
Left: person 亻/人, right: word 讠/言 (sound waves out of a mouth 口)
This person and his words are trustworthy.
HSK 3
change, transform, to make into
huà
Left: standing person 亻, right: ladle/spoon 匕 (here: sitting person),
If a standing person becomes a sitting person, it is a change.
HSK 3
position, location, place, seat
wèi
Left: person 亻/人, right: to stand 立
People are standing at their positions.
HSK 3
to resemble, to appear, to seem, image, portrait
xiàng
Left: person 亻, right: elephant 象 (A trunk ⺈ and two big ears 罒 make a pig 豕 appear like an elephant.)
A person resembling an elephant is an appearance.
HSK 4
excellent, superior
yōu
Left: person 亻, right: outstanding 尤 (Despite the broken leg 尢 [= 乚] the emphasis 丶 makes the big 大 person: outstanding)
Persons who are outstanding are excellent.
HSK 4
to protect, to defend, to maintain, Bulgaria
bǎo
Left: person 亻, right: stupid, foolish 呆 (a fence 囗 and a tree 木)
The person wants a fence for the tree to protect it. (Whereas a fenced 囗 tree 木 is in distress 困.)
HSK 4
merely, barely, only
jǐn
Left: person 亻, right: again, also 又 (image of a hand)
A person with only one hand, merely.
使
HSK 4
to cause, to instruct sb., to enable, to send
shǐ
Left: person 亻/人, right: civil servant 吏 (A mouth 口 of a certain reach 丈 is expected from an official.) [丈 = big 大 step, length 3.3m]
This person is civil servant and can cause you to do sth.
HSK 4
what, how, why, which

Left: person 亻/人, right: possibility, can 可 (The nail 丁 into the opening 口 should be possible.)
The person can do what?
HSK 4
example, precedent, rule, instance

Left: person 亻, right: row 列 (A [back-]bone 歹 is exposed with a knife刂 in a row.)
A person queuing in a line/row sets an example.
HSK 4
sacrificial offering, to provide, to supply
gōng, gòng
Left: person 亻, right: together 共 (Put the plants 艹 on the table together)
Person join together to provide an offering.
HSK 4
community, companion, partner, group, meals
huǒ
Left: person 亻/人, right: fire 火
When people are at the fire, this is forming a community.
HSK 4
value, price, to be worth, to happen
zhí
Left: person 亻, right: straight, directly 直 (Ten 十 eyes 目 watch the base line __, which is straight.)
This person knows directly his value.
HSK 4
still, yet, to remain
réng
Left: person 亻, right: therefore, thus 乃 (pregnancy belly in side view) [cf. pregnancy 孕, where a child 子 comes out of that womb 乃]
The person makes a "therefore" into a "still".
HSK 4
price, value
jià, jie
Left: person 亻, right: between 介 (The person 人 in this armor 丌 is in-between)
The person 亻 pays to another person 人 for the armor 丌: a price.
HSK 4
estimate, reckon, assessment, merchant
gū, gù
Left: person 亻, right: old 古 (originally: skull, but here better as image a tomb stone)
A person who is old (and experienced) is good in estimating.
HSK 4
to assign, to appoint, office, responsibility
rèn
Left: person 亻, right: burden 壬 or scholar 士 with hat ノ
A person, who is assigned as a 'scholar with hat', has official responsibility.
HSK 4
to injure, injury, wound
shāng
Left: person 亻, right: person lying down as a variant of 人, force 力
If you make a person into a lying person by means of force, you have probably injured him.
HSK 4
small thing, child, chick (young animal), attentive
zī, zǐ, zǎi
Left: Person 亻, right: child 子 (... with an emphasized head 乛, body 丿 and two outstretched arms 一)
A person has to give attentions to small things, like chicks.
HSK 4
both, two, craft, cunning
liǎ, liǎng
Left: person 亻, right: pair, both 两 (Two connected 一 persons 人 are inside 内, thus both.)
The persons, thus the pair, are both.
HSK 4
to stop, to halt, to park (a car)
tíng
Left: person 亻, right: pavilion, kiosk 亭 (Tall like a high 高 nail 丁, is this pavilion)
(When you travel you need a break:) The person is at the kiosk to stop.
HSK 4
master, tutor, qualified worker

Left: person 亻, right: announce 尃 (just now 甫 with skillful hand 寸)
That person, who announces, just now with a skillful hand, is my master.
HSK 4
to remodel, repair, study, decorate, cultivate
xiū
From left: person 亻, stick 丨, to beat 攵 (hand 又 with stick ノ), hair 彡
A person puts by hand two sticks in his hair to remodel (decorate) it.
仿
HSK 5
to imitate, to copy, mimic, seemingly
fǎng
Left: person 亻, right: direction, square 方
A person who (follows) in a direction is: imitating someone.
HSK 5
to steal, to pilfer, to snatch, stealthily
tōu
Left: person 亻, right: to assent, approve 俞 (When the arrowhead gets into the body 月 to cut 刂, I am assenting. [cf. arrow 箭])
The person assents the theft.
HSK 5
generation, to substitute, dynasty
dài
Left: person 亻, right: saber 弋
The person gives the saber (it's a heir) to the (next) generation.
HSK 5
to compensate for, repay, reimburse, fulfill (hopes etc)
cháng
Left: person 亻, right: taste(food) 尝 (If the small 小 under the cover 冖 tastes like a cloud 云, that's I want to: try/taste.) [cloud 云 = It can drip from both 二, namely from noses 厶 or: clouds]
The person tasted the food and will compensate the cost.
HSK 5
similar, to resemble, -like, to seem

Left: person 亻, right: to use 以 (The scratch plow レ has cut a plow furrow 丶, which a person 人 uses.)
The people, we use/need shall be similar.
HSK 5
admire, to respect, to wear (belt etc)
pèi
Left: person 亻, right: sail 几 (cf. wind 风) and cloth 巾
The person sees in the sail a piece of cloth, admires it and wants to wear it.
HSK 5
Buddha, Buddhism
fó, fú
Left: person 亻, right: deny, negation 弗 (A bow 弓 with two strings || is to be denied.)
A person of denial (of needs) is the (godlike) buddha.
HSK 5
entirely, plenty of choice, without exception

Left: person 亻, right: tool 具 (The eye 目 sees on the table a tool)
The person has with his eye over the table an: entire choice.
亿
HSK 5
100 million (=10^8)

Left: person 亻, (here: "1"), right: 乙 at second position 乙 (Number 'two' 二 written quickly without lifting the pen.) (If you continue the line of 乙 to the upper left, you get an eight 8)
A "one" with 8 zeros -> 100 million.
HSK 5
stupid, foolish, idiot
shǎ
Left: person 亻, right: 囟 (TV-set 口 with screen 㐅, antenna 丶 on a stand 八; and 夂 sitting cross-legged
A person being in front of the TV cross-legged, becomes: stupid.
HSK 5
to propose, instigate, initiate, promote, introduce
chàng
Left: person 亻, right: to flourish 昌 (Two suns 日 and it is flourishing.)
According to this person, there should be two suns: that was the proposal!
HSK 5
imposing, great, mighty, magnificent
wěi
Left: person 亻, right: leather 韦 (Two layers 二 are separated with special sword 刀 to make leather)
(Clothing made of linen or similar was for ordinary people.) A person in leather appears imposing.
HSK 6
incline, to collapse, to overturn, to tend
qīng
Left: person 亻, right: short while ago, area size qǐng 顷 (sitting person 匕, page, (fore)head 页/頁 (=head 目 with shoulders 八 and eyebrows 一) Better left: change 化
If a person 亻turns to a sitting 匕 person, it's in the head, that is inclining.
HSK 6
to cut down, to fell, attack, boast

Left: person 亻/人, right: halberd 戈
The person used the halberd for cutting down (felling).
HSK 6
father's elder brother, senior

Left: person 亻, right: white 白 (The shine ノ of the sun 日 makes it white.)
The person with "white" (= the hair) is my elder uncle.
HSK 6
apparatus, ceremony, rites, appearance, present

Left: person 亻, right: justice 义 (It comes from the emphasized 丶 head of the person 人 with raised arms 乂)
The person of justice needs an apparatus for bringing ceremonies in appearance.
HSK 6
squad of five soldiers, associated

Left: person 亻, right: five 五
Persons as 'five' are a military squad.
HSK 6
to scout, to spy, to detect
zhēn
Left: person 亻, right: faithful 贞 (Who divines 卜 for money 贝 must be faithful.)
A person especially faithful is asked for scouting and spying.
HSK 6
to save, store, have in reserve
chǔ
Left: person 亻, right: various 诸 (The words 讠/言 of the persons 者 are: various.)
The bank employee 亻 recommends with words 言 to the customer 者, he shall: save. OR: A person with various (things) has saved.
HSK 6
enemy, hatred, animosity, a rival, feud
chóu, qiú
Left: person 亻, right: nine 九
Persons who come in ninths are your enemies.
HSK 6
to take prisoner, prisoner of war

Left: person 亻, right: entrust 孚 (To the hand reaching down 爫, the child 子 is trusting.)
A person who trusts can (easily be) taken as prisoner.
HSK 6
false, fake, forged, bogus
wěi
Left: person 亻, right: to act/behave as 为 (A very strongly emphasized force acts as such.)
A person who acts like this is false!
HSK 6
beautiful, fine, good
jiā
Left: person 人, right: 圭 = 2x earth 土 as piled earth path cf. street 街)
The person strutting on the mounds of earth (= a street) is of excellent beauty.
HSK 6
look down, stoop

Left: person 亻, right: seat of government 府 (The building 广 in which it is handed over 付, is the seat of the government.) [付 = to hand over from a person 亻to a skillful hand 寸]
A persons shall at the seat of government look down and stoop.
HSK 6
coherence, human relationship, order
lún
Left: person 亻, right: arrange, set up 仑 (When a person 人 turns into a sitting person 匕, it is well arranged.)
A person, who is "well arranged" thinks in terms of coherence and relationships.
HSK 6
benevolent, humane, kernel
rén
Left: person 亻/人, right: two 二
A person is like two, if it is benevolent.
HSK 6
tired
juàn
Left: person 亻, right: reel, spool 卷 (border guard 龹 [= person 人 with high lifted arms 丷 and two barrier bars 二], slumped person 㔾-)
When a person as a security guard lifted the arms and then slumps down, he is tired.
HSK 6
stiff (corpse), deadlock, become rigid
jiāng
Left: Person 亻, right: 畺 (3x 2 rice fields)
A person who (has to walk) 3 times over two rice fields can thereby deadlock or get stiff.
HSK 6
emigrant, reside abroad
qiáo
Left: person 亻, right: tall 乔 (top: 夭, but here: sky 天: [Sky-天-long legs 丿| make tall.])
In particular persons, that are tall become emigrants.
HSK 6
brave and chivalrous, hero, heroic
xiá
Left: person 亻, right: squeeze in 夹 (A husband 夫 between persons 丷 (=人) is squeezed, [traditional 俠] HERE: Husband with two kids on the arms)
The person who is a husband with two kids on the arms is brave and chivalrous.
HSK 6
the side, lateral, inclined
cè, zè, zhāi
Left: person 亻, right: standard/rule 则 (money 贝 is cut/split 刂 by rules)
The person observing the rules (=referee) stands at the side (of the play ground).
HSK 6
debt, liability, obligation
zhài
Left: person 亻, right: responsibility 责 (Growing plants and money 贝/貝 mean responsibilities.)
A person bears the responsibility for his: debt.
HSK 6
to employ, to hire, servant
yōng, yòng
Left: person 亻, right: to use, need 用 (A fence 用 can be used.)
The person, who is needed is the: employed servant.
HSK 6
companion, mate, partner

Left: person 亻, right: two mouths 吕
Like one person with two mouths: partners / cohabitee.
HSK 6
nephew by the male line, nephew
zhí
Left: person 亻, right: to arrive, reach 至 (From the sky 一 an arrow 厶 comes to the earth 土: reaching it.)
The person, who just has arrived is the nephew.
HSK 6
battle, weaponry, to wield, to rely on
zhàng
Left: Person 亻, right: unit of length 丈 (Big person 大 with wide step)
A person with wide steps during the battle.
HSK 6
to wait and watch, to examine, to spy
cì, sì
Left: person 亻/人, right: civil servant, administer 司 (... where sb. is sitting in a corner ⌝ throwing a sheet 一 of paper in the wastebasket 口)
(He does not like to work?) A person as a civil servant wants to: wait and watch.
HSK 6
remote (location), peculiar, secluded, eccentric, biased

Left: person 亻, right: anal penetration, torture 辟 (buttock from the side 尸, opening 口, needle 辛 as symbol for penetration or torture)
A person who does anal penetration is "remote".
HSK 6
frugal, thrifty, needless, unadorned
jiǎn
Left: person 亻, right: together 佥 (A person 人 as one 一 is with three ツ together.)
If it is (enough) for a person to be in a "together", he is frugal.
HSK 6
clever
líng
Left: person 亻, right: order, command 令 (A lid on the bent person卩, was ordered)
The person, giving commands should be clever.
HSK 6
exaggerating, extravagant, wasteful
chǐ
Left: person 亻, right: much, many 多
(At an invitation:) If the persons are too many, it is exaggerating.
HSK 6
upright and honest, cheerful, to talk smoothly
kǎn
Left: person 亻, right: mouth 口, river 川
(He talks a lot:) The person with a mouth like a river is: upright and honest.
HSK 6
bundle wrapped in cloth

Left: clothes 衤/衣, right: subsue 伏 (A person 亻/人 is like a dog 犬, when it subdues.)
With clothes a person can (carry) a dog, enwrapped as: a bundle.
HSK 6
by mere luck
jiǎo
Left: person 亻, right: Emperor Tang Yao 尧 (variation of halberd 戈 and table )
The person who stepped with the halberd over the table did so (... without falling): by mere luck.
HSK 6
crabby, stubborn, obstinate, tough
jué
Left: person 亻, right: bow, crouch 屈 (The buttock 尸 [=butt's crack] comes out 出 when crouching. = "plumber's crack or smile")
A person who (always) is crouching becomes: crabby.
HSK 6
clever

Left: person 亻, right: profit, favorable 利 (Harvesting rice plants 禾 with a knife刂 is favorable and brings profit.)
A person making profit is clever.
no HSK
clique, faction, valve (loanword)

Outside: gate 门/ 門, inside: to cut down, fell 伐 (A person 亻with a halberd 戈 is cutting down.)
It's like a gate with a guarding person (person with a halberd): the valve.
no HSK
suddenly, very soon, Russian
é
Left: person 亻, right: I,me 我 (In my hand 手 a halberd 戈 and I am myself)
The person who has a halberd in his hand (which is me), acts very suddenly.
no HSK
to help, protect, bless, assist
yòu
Left: person 亻, right: right 右 (= The hand that feeds the mouth 口.)
The person's hand feeds sth. into the mouth, when: helping.
no HSK
to carry on shoulder or back, burden, lotus
hé, hè
Top: plant 艹, bottom: "what" 何? (Two persons 亻, 丁 carrying a load 口 with that bar 一
For the transport of the plants the two persons use their shoulders to carry that load.
no HSK
smart, good-looking
qiào
Left: person 亻, right: alike, resemble 肖 (Small 小 bodies 月 are alike.)
(IQ-test or memory-game:) Persons, who detect the alikes are smart.
no HSK
to assist, assistant, aide, to accompany
zuǒ
Left: person 亻/人, right: left 左 (The hand that supports when building 工)
The person at left assists.
no HSK
to serve, to attend upon
shì
Left: person 亻/人, right: temple 寺 (Made of earth 土 and built with skillful hands 寸)
The person is in the temple as a: servant.
no HSK
(phonetic for:) ga or gā
qié
Left: person 亻, right: to add 加 (For getting power 力 your mouth 口 needs sth. to be 'added' [= to eat])
The person adds a: 'ga' or 'gā'
no HSK
wild goose
yàn
From left: cliff 厂, person 亻, bird 隹
On the cliff and (big as) a person is this bird: the wild goose.
no HSK
you (Wu dialect), I, me (classical)
nóng
Left: person 亻, right: peasant 农 (he wears a cover 冖 at the clothes 衣 [because he has to go out in any weathers])
The person as a peasant, that is: you!
no HSK
tenant farmer
diàn
Left: person 亻, right: rice field 田
The person at the rice field is the tenant farmer.
no HSK
servant, to fall prostrate
pū, pú
Left: person 亻, right: oracle, forking road 卜
The person who prostrates himself from the standing 丨 forward 丶 is the servant.
no HSK
feeble, tiny, young and weak

Left: person 亻, right: fragment, child 兒/儿 (simplified to 儿, with mortar 臼 and legs 儿)
The person, who is like a 'child' is: feeble.
no HSK
beautiful, lovely, pretty, winsome
qiàn
Left: person 亻, right: green/blue, young 青 (Growing plants appear in the moonshine 月 blue and young.)
A person in his youth is beautiful.
no HSK
male, man, person
lǎo
Left: person 亻, right: old, experienced 老 (old man 耂 as a sitting person 匕)
The 'person' of the old man is: male.
no HSK
child (coll.), kid

Left: person 亻, right: tusk 牙 (also: sprout, bud cf. 芽)
The person, who is a sprout, is a child.
no HSK
Japanese (old derogatory term), dwarf

Left: person 亻, right: entrust 委 (Rice plant 禾 can women 女 be entrusted.)
(especially trustworthy) The person who can be entrusted is the: Japanese.
no HSK
pretend, feign, false, deceitful
yáng
Left: person 亻, right: sheep 羊 (The horned 丷 animal with a backbone 丨 and laterally protruding due to thick wool 三 is the: sheep)
A person pretending to be a sheep is deceitful.
no HSK
he, she, abbr. for Iraq or Iran

Left: person 亻, right: to administer, rule 尹 (.. with a stick ノ in the hand you administer)
The person with the stick in his hand point to him/her.
no HSK
to cause, to enable, phonetic bi

Left: person 亻, right: vulgar/low 卑 (A such untidy field 田 is tenfold 十 vulgar.)
The person behaves vulgarly and wants to cause something.
no HSK
to lean on, rely upon

Left: person 亻, right: strange, odd 奇 (There is a big 大 possibility (opportunity) 可, but it looks strange.) [possibility 可 = The nail 丁 into the opening 口 should be possible.]
A person has big possibilities, if he can lean on sth.
no HSK
majestic, dignified
yǎn
Left: person 亻, right: tight, thicket 严 (With a cover 一 the hollow peak 业 of the cliff 厂 is tight and strict.)
A person who appears tight, is majestically.
no HSK
until, wait for

Left: person 亻, right: end-particle 矣 (If the nose 厶 is hit by the arrow 矢, it is the end) [arrow 矢 = An arrow ノ in the sky 天]
When the person is at the end, it means: 'until ...'
no HSK
to cuddle, embrace, fondle
wēi
Left: person 亻, right: awe/reverence 畏 (because he has rice fields 田 and (good) clothes 衣)
(Don't jump all over your partner right away:) A person shows awe/respect when cuddling.
no HSK
"dwarf", person of short stature
zhū
Left: person 亻, right: vermilion 朱 (A branch of a young [= not yet] tree 未 has sth. red ノ =apple?)
This person is like sth. small ノ at the young, unfinished tree: The dwarf.
no HSK
together, in company with
xié
Left: person 亻, right: all 皆 (I compare 比 but the shine ノ of the sun 日 make it white 白: all & everything!)
A person with 'all' stands for: together.
no HSK
to exorcise demons
nuó
Left: person 亻, right: difficult 难 (By hand 又 [to catch] a bird 隹 is difficult.)
Persons have difficulties with: exorcism.
no HSK
raft (of logs)

Top: bamboo 竹, bottom: to cut down, fell 伐 (The person 亻with the halberd 戈 is cutting down.)
The bamboo should be cut down to make a: raft.
no HSK
lazy, idle

Left: person 亻, right: to lose 失 (I emphasize ノ the husband 夫 will lose.)
A person will lose, if he is lazy.
no HSK
usurp
jiàn
Left: person 亻, right: 朁 (2x sky 天 with a waving hand ⌞, sun 日)
When 2 people wave as if from the sky above the sun, they have usurped sth.
no HSK
Dai (ethnic group)
dǎi
Left: person 亻, right: safe, peaceful, Thailand 泰
The persons who are as three 三 persons 人 by the water are the peaceful 'Dai'.
no HSK
puppet, strange, exotic
kuǐ
Left: person 亻, right: devil 鬼
(Often used in a puppet shows) The person of the devil is a puppet.
no HSK
so, such, to such a degree
ruò
Left: person 亻, right: seem as if 若 (The plant 艹 to the right 右 seems as if.)
The person (cuts) the plant with the right (hand). You do: such so.
no HSK
puppet, dummy, marionette
lěi
Left: person 亻, right: 畾 (three fields 田)
(You can only work on one field) A person, who is (at the same time) on three rice fields is: a puppet.
no HSK
handsome, beautiful, good-looking
jiǎo
Left: person 亻, right: exchange, crossing 交 (six 六 crosses 㐅)
(Beauty makes popular) The person is in exchange because he is handsome.

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

At the page you get the memory phrases for learning the Chinese Hanzi. If you are learning the Japanese kanji, please follow this link.

List of the characters | List of the radicals
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