Radical
にんべん
Component
可
Most kanji are made of parts. The most important part is called a radical.
Most kanji have a part called a radical — in Japanese, that’s 部首ぶしゅ.
Radicals are used to organize kanji in dictionaries, and many also give you a clue about meaning or category.
For example, the radical にんべん (⺅) often appears in kanji related to people — like 体からだ (body), 休やす (rest), or 何なに (what).
Not all kanji are made of multiple parts — simple ones like 一 or 人 are already complete.
But for most kanji, understanding the radical helps you recognize and remember them more easily.
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