Radicals in Action
Every Radical Tells a Story
Each radical gives you a hint — about meaning, category, or sometimes even how to read the kanji.
海 means “sea.” The radical is ⺡ — the water radical. You’ll find it in words like 湖 (lake) and 泳 (swim). If you see ⺡, it often means the kanji is water-related.
道 means “road” or “path.” Its radical is ⻌ — the movement radical. It shows up in 近 (near) and 通 (pass through). Think of ⻌ as something related to going or moving.
家 means “house” or “home.” Its radical is 宀 — the roof radical. You’ll see it in 安 (peace) and 室 (room). Radicals like 宀 often relate to buildings or spaces where people live or gather.
話 means “to speak.” The radical is 言 — the speech radical. You’ll find it in 語 (language) and 読 (read). If you see 言, the kanji probably has something to do with sound or communication.
Once you start noticing radicals, you’ll recognize kanji faster — and their meanings will make more sense.
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