The Chinese Radical: 工


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Meaning
work, to build    工

Explanation Cross sectional view of a H-steel beam for building or making.

Used in these characters:
JLPT HSK 1
work, worker, skill,profession, craft
gōng

Cross sectional view of a H-steel beam as symbol for: work.  
JLPT HSK 2
red, bonus, popular, revolutionary
hóng
Left: thread 纟/, right: work(er)
(Construction sites have red tapes to cordon off hazardous areas:) The thread of the worker is red.  
JLPT HSK 2
left, unorthodox
zuǒ
Left: hand /, right: build, work (image of a carpenter's square)
The hand that assists, (=supports with the carpenter's square) is the left.  
JLPT HSK 3
difference, discrepancy, lack
chā, chà, chāi, cī
Top: sheep with a bent leg , below: craftsman, construction
A sheep with a bent leg and a craftsman: what a difference!  
JLPT HSK 3
sky, empty, air, in vain, vacant
kōng, kòng
Top: hole, cavity (It is covered and a narrowing path leads into the cave.), bottom: to build, work
When a hole is built (into the ceiling), the empty sky opens.  
JLPT HSK 4
big river, stream
jiāng
Left: water , right: craftsman
(Many cities are located at this river) The 'water', where it is worked, is the: Yangtze (= 长江).  
JLPT HSK 4
skillful, opportunely, coincidentally, timely
qiǎo
Left: craftsman , right: seaweed
The craftsman works the seaweed: skillfully.  
JLPT HSK 4
to guard, protect, defend, hygiene
wèi
Image of work/worker with a hanging arm
We can use the worker with the hanging arm only for: guarding.  
JLPT HSK 4
achievement, meritorious, result, accomplishment
gōng
Left: craftsman , right: strength/effort
A craftsman with strength fulfills: achievements.  
JLPT HSK 5
to offer tribute, contribute, gifts
gòng
Top: work , bottom: money /貝
Either with work or money you have to pay your tribute.  
JLPT HSK 5
to accuse, to charge, to control, to sue
kòng
Left: hand , right: sky 空 (... appears, where a hole is built in.)
The hand, that built the hole, should be: accused.  
JLPT HSK 5
back of neck, item, thing, term sum (of money), projects
xiàng
Left: construct (here: image of a neck with: head , neck | and shoulders ), right: page, leaf (页/= head with shoulders and eyebrows )
The neck with the head stands for neck or projects.  
JLPT HSK 5
rainbow
hóng, jiàng
Left: insect (The body and the sting ム of an insect.), right: craftsman/build
Insects actually build the rainbow?  
JLPT HSK 6
cavity of body, compartment, tune, melody, speak out
qiāng
Left:body part /, right: sky, empty 空 (... appears, where a hole is built in.)
The body parts where sth. empty was built in, are the body's cavities.  
JLPT HSK 6
to destroy (by fire), to damage, to defame, slander
huǐ
Left: mortar: (here: destroyed sun ), work(er) , right: (battle axe in a hand )
The sun was taken by the worker with the battle axe in the hand and: destroyed.  
JLPT HSK 6
to attack, to accuse, to study
gōng
Left: craftsman , right: strike 攵/ (hand with a stick )
A craftsman strikes back when he is attacked.  
JLPT HSK 6
solid, to secure, to consolidate
gǒng
Left: work, build , right: usually (A table 机/ with a scratch is common.)
A worker makes a table usually: solid!  
JLPT HSK 6
carry on one's shoulder, to raise aloft with both hands
gāng, káng
Left: hand , right: work(er)
By hand, the worker has to carry on his shoulders.  
JLPT HSK 6
intelligence, opening, trick/key
qiào
Top: hole, cavity (It is covered and a narrowing path leads into the cave), below: skilled 巧 (The craftsman works the seaweed skillfully.)
Whoever builds his cave skillfully, is intelligent.  
JLPT HSK 6
carrying pole, horizontal bar, lever, crowbar
gàng
Left: tree , right: build
Wood serves at construction /building as a: carrying pole.  
JLPT HSK 6
to accuse falsely, false evidence, trap

Left: word /, right: witch 巫 (She's doing the work of two persons : This witch! - cf. squeeze )
The words of a witch are false accusations. OR: Words that squeeze-in are: false accusations.  
鸿
JLPT no HSK
eastern bean goose, great, letter/mail
hóng
Left: big river 江 (= The water where it is built ), right: bird 鸟/
At the big river is this bird: the large bean goose.  
JLPT no HSK
witch, wizard, shaman

Outside: two persons , inside: work
It seems, that she is doing the work of two persons: The witch.  
JLPT no HSK
jar, vat, classifier for loads of laundry
gāng
Left: can (lid and can opener of that can ), right: work(er)
A 'can' built by a worker is a jar.  
JLPT no HSK
craftsman
jiàng
Outside: box (simplified from: to work ), inside: axe
In the box is the axe of the craftsman.  
JLPT no HSK
anus
gāng
Left: body part /, right: to work
The body part that needs to work is the: anus?  
JLPT no HSK
mercury (chemistry)
gǒng
Top: build, work , bottom: water
It's built like water: mercury.  

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

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