Chinese Character Components
Chinese characters are built from recurring parts called components. HanziFeed indexes 644 components that each appear in at least 2 characters across the HSK 3.0 character set (CLEC 2022 syllabus). Components are classified by their primary role: semantic (contributing meaning), phonetic (suggesting pronunciation), or structural (providing visual framework).
Components go beyond the traditional 214 Kangxi radicals. While radicals classify characters in dictionaries, components reveal how characters are actually built — including phonetic elements that hint at pronunciation and structural pieces that give characters their shape. Browsing by component is one of the most effective ways to see patterns across the writing system.
644
Total Components
87
Semantic
407
Phonetic
150
Structural
Semantic Components (87)
Semantic components contribute meaning to the characters they appear in. For example, the water component (氵) appears in characters related to liquids, rivers, and flowing.
口mouth(195)扌扌(180)氵氵(174)木wood/tree(132)亻亻(120)艹艹(95)土earth, soil(79)讠讠(75)⺼⺼(70)纟纟(69)辶辶(67)忄忄(55)女woman(55)贝shell, money(53)心heart, mind(51)阝阝(49)火fire(47)钅钅(47)禾(bound form) grain plant(39)目eye(39)刂刂(38)力power(33)王king or monarch(32)山mountain(32)石stone(31)⺮⺮(31)攵攵(30)虫insect(30)足foot(29)米uncooked rice(28)页head(27)车vehicle(26)疒疒(26)马horse(25)犭犭(23)冫冫(21)门door, gate(19)饣饣(19)穴cave(19)酉酉(18)灬灬(17)衣clothing(16)耳ear(15)衤衤(13)雨rain(13)礻礻(13)走to walk(12)矢arrow(10)手hand(10)彡彡(10)鸟bird(10)羽feather(10)舟boat(10)糸糸(9)鬼disembodied spirit(9)见to see(8)革animal hide(7)鱼fish(7)歹bad(7)身body(5)缶缶(4)父father(4)骨bone(4)尢尢(4)壴壴(3)气gas(3)耒耒(3)敕敕(2)爪foot of a bird or animal(2)鬲鬲(2)冏冏(2)灰ash, gray(2)瓦roof tile(2)豸豸(2)廴廴(2)片thin piece(2)攴攴(2)肉meat(2)釆釆(2)民(bound form) the people(2)戎戎(2)死to die(2)⺗⺗(2)男male(2)黍黍(2)肃respectful(2)血blood(2)
Phonetic Components (407)
Phonetic components suggest pronunciation. Characters sharing a phonetic component often have similar sounds, making them powerful cues for reading unfamiliar characters.
隹隹(22)工work(21)羊sheep(18)白white(18)欠to owe(18)方square(17)艮艮(14)者(after a verb or adjective) one who (is) ...(13)丁male adult(13)分to divide(13)尚still(12)肖similar(12)由to follow(11)皮leather(11)少few(11)令to order(11)且and(11)古ancient(11)舌tongue(11)卜(bound form) to divine(11)圭sundial(11)占to observe(10)各each(10)共common(10)非to not be(10)中(bound form) China(10)交to hand over(10)莫do not(10)文language(10)良good(9)尧尧(9)包to cover(9)旦(literary) dawn(9)巴Ba, a state during the Zhou dynasty (in present-day Chongqing and the eastern part of Sichuan)(9)合100 ml(9)佥佥(9)里lining(9)云(classical) to say(9)甬甬(9)龙Chinese dragon(9)丬丬(9)可can, may(8)青green(8)亡to die(8)昔former times(8)京capital city of a country(8)半half(8)从from(8)咅咅(8)林forest, woods(8)区area(8)比Belgium(8)也also(7)戋戋(7)台Taiwan (abbr.)(7)不no(7)反contrary(7)加Canada (abbr. for 加拿大)(7)生to be born(7)寺Buddhist temple(7)己self(7)亥亥(7)其his(7)牙tooth(7)九nine(7)夋夋(7)俞yes (used by Emperor or ruler)(7)尤outstanding(7)韦soft leather(7)仓barn(7)旁one side(7)每each(6)曷曷(6)乍乍(6)屯to station (soldiers)(6)支to support(6)才ability(6)奇strange(6)乔tall(6)直Zhi (c. 2000 BC), fifth of the legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝 descended from Shennong 神農|神农 Farmer God(6)主owner(6)未not yet(6)次next in sequence(6)兑to cash(6)正straight(6)果fruit, result(6)夫husband(6)⺌⺌(6)勺spoon(6)勿do not(6)谷grain(6)豕豕(6)至to arrive(6)申old name for Shanghai 上海(6)畐畐(6)予(archaic) I(6)元Yuan dynasty (1279–1368)(6)余(literary) I(6)乙second of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干(6)辟to open (a door)(6)喿喿(6)夹to press from either side(6)川(bound form) river(6)昜昜(5)去to go(5)臽臽(5)卓outstanding(5)娄娄(5)弟younger brother(5)今now(5)乃to be(5)兼double(5)只classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc(5)平flat(5)周week, around(5)军(bound form) army(5)及and(5)卒soldier(5)寿long life(5)扁flat(5)我I(5)并and(5)付to pay(5)登to scale (a height)(5)兆(bound form) omen(5)易easy(5)巨very large(5)宗school(5)化to make into(5)监to supervise(5)辰5th earthly branch: 7-9 a.m., 3rd solar month (5th April-4th May), year of the Dragon(5)此this(5)夭夭(5)丂丂(5)多many(5)甫(classical) barely(5)尃尃(5)争to strive for(5)亢亢(5)高high(5)耑耑(5)襄(literary) to assist(5)因cause(4)执to execute (a plan)(4)列to arrange(4)公public(4)乞to beg(4)相mutual, appearance(4)曼handsome(4)奂奂(4)是is, yes(4)召to call together(4)井Jing, one of the 28 constellations of Chinese astronomy(4)吾吾(4)炎flame(4)西the West(4)斩to chop(4)长long(4)失to lose(4)冈ridge(4)真really(4)呙呙(4)夆夆(4)勾to attract(4)秀(bound form) refined(4)曾once(4)出to go out(4)宛宛(4)麻hemp, numb(4)卑low(4)介to introduce(4)卯卯(4)末tip(4)屈bent(4)叟叟(4)风wind(4)垂to hang (down)(4)害to do harm to(4)焦anxious, burnt(4)采to pick(4)卬卬(4)禺禺(4)告tell, inform(4)下down(4)央center(4)匋匋(4)敝敝(4)朋friend(4)仑to arrange(4)光light(4)单bill(4)句sentence(4)朿朿(4)吕pitchpipe, pitch standard, one of the twelve semitones in the traditional tone system(4)折to break(4)丑clown(4)用to use(4)员member, staff(4)豆legume(4)既already(4)母mother(4)切to cut(4)亚Asia(4)朱vermilion(4)曹Zhou Dynasty vassal state(4)孚孚(4)瓜melon(4)甚excessive(4)胡non-Han people, esp. from central Asia(3)㐬㐬(3)先beforehand(3)同like(3)前front(3)某certain, some(3)丩丩(3)咸all(3)壬壬(3)叚叚(3)更to change or replace(3)旨imperial decree(3)义(Tw) Italy (abbr. for 義大利|义大利)(3)成to succeed(3)爰爰(3)知to know(3)庄village, manor(3)保to protect, to guarantee(3)兹(literary) this(3)专for a particular person, occasion, purpose(3)枼枼(3)录to carve wood(3)玄black(3)柬card(3)冬winter(3)内inside(3)君monarch(3)官official(3)司to take charge of(3)叔uncle(3)廷palace courtyard(3)丙third of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干(3)夸to boast(3)危danger(3)舀舀(3)束to bind(3)逢to meet by chance(3)甲first of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干(3)詹詹(3)苗Hmong or Miao ethnic group of southwest China(3)昌(bound form) prosperous(3)永forever(3)居to reside(3)齐(name of states and dynasties at several different periods)(3)番time, foreign(3)则(literary) (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but(3)崔崔(3)敖敖(3)象elephant(3)秋autumn(3)䍃䍃(3)童child(3)兰orchid (蘭花|兰花 Cymbidium goeringii)(3)刍刍(3)卂卂(3)罗gauze(3)星star(3)若to seem(3)具tool(3)弗(literary) not(3)劳(bound form) to toil(3)氐氐(3)委committee, to entrust(3)敫敫(3)龹龹(3)匀even(3)东east(3)尉尉(3)啇啇(3)参to take part in(3)荅荅(3)匡匡(3)夌夌(3)丈measure of length, ten Chinese feet (3.3 m)(3)留to stay, to keep(3)全all(3)难difficult (to...)(3)奚surname Xi(2)昷昷(2)尼Buddhist nun(2)原former(2)吴area comprising southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang and Shanghai(2)安safe, peace(2)午7th earthly branch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., noon, 5th solar month (6th June-6th July), year of the Horse(2)並並(2)竟unexpectedly(2)连to connect, even(2)或maybe(2)吉lucky(2)色color(2)代to be a substitute for(2)宓宓(2)翏翏(2)串to string together(2)坐to sit(2)隶(bound form) a person in servitude(2)属category(2)冘冘(2)它it(2)早early, morning(2)爻爻(2)咠咠(2)市market(2)那(specifier) that(2)票ticket(2)布to announce(2)本(bound form) root(2)求to seek(2)邦(bound form) country(2)孝filial piety or obedience(2)斥to blame(2)泉spring (small stream)(2)異異(2)以to use(2)奏to play music(2)堇堇(2)太highest(2)巩(bound form) to fix in place(2)荒desolate(2)空empty, sky(2)屋(bound form) house(2)龺龺(2)矛spear(2)当(onom.) dong(2)昆descendant(2)朝imperial or royal court(2)呈to present to a superior(2)尊senior(2)章chapter(2)左left(2)孛comet(2)与and(2)彭surname Peng(2)景scenery(2)建to establish(2)奴slave(2)敬(bound form) respectful(2)唐Tang dynasty (618–907)(2)攸攸(2)必certainly(2)卷to roll up(2)朔朔(2)奉to offer (tribute)(2)畀畀(2)之(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的)(2)侯nobleman(2)利sharp(2)离to leave(2)贲贲(2)聂to whisper(2)亏to lose (money)(2)厷厷(2)㐱㐱(2)矣classical final particle, similar to modern 了(2)巿巿(2)感to feel, to sense(2)剌perverse(2)明bright, tomorrow(2)右(bound form) right(2)署office(2)忝忝(2)皆all(2)戒to guard against(2)翟翟(2)于(of time or place) in(2)益benefit(2)宾visitor(2)产to give birth(2)亶亶(2)州prefecture(2)差difference(2)汤soup(2)帝emperor(2)定to decide, fixed(2)陏陏(2)復復(2)雚雚(2)旱drought(2)亨亨(2)皇emperor(2)家home, family(2)畺畺(2)匊匊(2)尹尹(2)览to look at(2)尞尞(2)面face(2)宁peaceful(2)桼桼(2)师teacher(2)黾黾(2)如as, if(2)欶欶(2)世life(2)息breath(2)解to divide(2)宣to declare (publicly)(2)厓厓(2)奄奄(2)
Structural Components (150)
Structural components provide the visual framework of a character without directly contributing meaning or sound. They are essential for understanding how characters are composed.
一one(83)日sun, day(67)宀宀(52)又(once) again(44)十ten(37)大big(33)丷丷(31)人person(30)广wide, broad(30)亠亠(29)丿丿(28)巾towel(27)冖冖(26)田field(25)丶丶(25)寸a unit of length(24)厂"cliff" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 27), occurring in 原, 历, 压 etc(24)八eight(23)尸(literary) person representing the deceased (during burial ceremonies)(22)彳彳(21)几small table(20)冂冂(20)彐彐(20)丨丨(20)厶厶(19)子son(18)二two(18)立to stand(17)囗囗(17)乂乂(17)月moon, month(16)弓a bow (weapon)(16)干dry(15)戈dagger-axe(15)户a household(15)斤catty(15)止to stop(14)乚乚(14)匕匕(14)皿皿(14)夕(bound form) sunset(13)牛ox(13)殳殳(13)儿child(13)小small(13)夂夂(13)刀knife(12)罒罒(12)犬(literary) dog(11)勹勹(11)⺈⺈(10)廾廾(10)辛(of taste) hot or pungent(9)士member of the senior ministerial class (old)(8)卩卩(8)凵凵(8)示to show(8)甘(bound form) sweet(7)爫爫(7)疋疋(7)水water(7)亦also(7)毛hair(7)巳巳(7)幺幺(7)自(bound form) self(6)夬夬(6)廿廿(6)亅亅(6)斗dry measure for grain equal to ten 升 or one-tenth of a 石(6)兄elder brother(6)千thousand(6)匚匚(6)虍虍(6)音sound(5)凶terrible(5)言words(5)免to excuse sb(5)开to open (transitive or intransitive)(5)了(completed action marker)(5)龶龶(5)⺊⺊(5)玉jade(5)天day(5)⺀⺀(5)聿聿(5)丰luxuriant(5)㔾㔾(5)上(bound form) up(4)角angle(4)氏(bound form) family name(4)⺍⺍(4)匸匸(4)两two(4)取to take(4)七seven(4)覀覀(4)耂耂(4)曰to speak(4)凡ordinary(4)行(bound form) row(4)尺a Chinese foot(4)北north(4)氺氺(4)业line of business(4)丘mound(4)享to enjoy(4)暴violent, storm(3)尔thus(3)帛silk(3)贵expensive(3)兔rabbit(3)㠯㠯(3)发to send out(3)乏short of(3)关mountain pass(3)办to take care of (a matter)(3)而and(3)乛乛(3)卖to sell(3)三three(3)弋弋(3)戊戊(3)刃刃(3)黑black(3)乇乇(3)兀surname Wu(3)臼臼(3)育to educate, to raise(3)有to have(3)头head(2)帀帀(2)倠倠(2)任task, to appoint(2)另other, another(2)镸镸(2)兴to rise(2)责responsibility(2)冗extraneous(2)急urgent(2)步a step(2)屮屮(2)亘亘(2)万ten thousand(2)肀肀(2)酋酋(2)巛巛(2)卄卄(2)叒叒(2)回to circle(2)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Chinese character component?
A component is any recurring part that appears inside multiple Chinese characters. Components are the building blocks of the writing system — most characters are composed of two or more components combined in specific positions (left-right, top-bottom, enclosing, etc.). HanziFeed indexes 644 components that each appear in at least 2 characters across the HSK 3.0 character set (CLEC 2022 syllabus). Understanding components makes it possible to decode unfamiliar characters by recognizing their parts.
What is the difference between a radical and a component?
Radicals are a specific subset of components. The 214 Kangxi radicals are the traditional set used to classify and look up characters in dictionaries — every character is assigned exactly one radical. Components are the broader set of all recurring parts in characters, including radicals, phonetic elements, and structural pieces. A character like 请 contains the radical 讠 (speech) and the phonetic component 青 (qīng). Both are components, but only 讠 is the radical. On HanziFeed, you can browse characters by either system: radicals for dictionary-style classification, or components for structural decomposition.
What are semantic, phonetic, and structural components?
Chinese character components serve three distinct roles. Semantic components contribute meaning — for example, 氵 (water) appears in characters related to liquids and flowing (河 river, 洗 wash, 海 sea). Phonetic components suggest pronunciation — for example, 青 (qīng) gives a similar sound to 请 (qǐng), 清 (qīng), and 情 (qíng). Structural components provide the visual framework without directly contributing meaning or sound. Of the 644 components indexed on HanziFeed, 87 are primarily semantic, 407 are primarily phonetic, and 150 are primarily structural. Components are classified based on their most common role across all characters they appear in.
How many components are there in Chinese characters?
HanziFeed indexes 644 components that each appear in at least 2 characters within the HSK 3.0 character set (CLEC 2022 syllabus). This includes 87 semantic components, 407 phonetic components, and 150 structural components. The most productive components appear in dozens or even hundreds of characters. Note that the total number of possible components depends on how characters are decomposed — HanziFeed uses structural decomposition analysis to identify the meaningful parts within each character.
How do components help with learning Chinese characters?
Components are the most powerful tool for systematic character learning. Instead of memorizing each character as a unique shape, learners who understand components can: (1) break unfamiliar characters into recognizable parts, (2) guess pronunciation from phonetic components (correct roughly 40% of the time), (3) infer meaning categories from semantic components, and (4) distinguish similar-looking characters by identifying which components differ. For example, knowing that 氵 means water instantly connects 河 (river), 湖 (lake), 洋 (ocean), 泪 (tears), and dozens more. This structural approach is especially effective from HSK 3 onward, where characters become more compositionally complex.
Sources & Standards
Components are identified through structural decomposition analysis of characters in the HSK 3.0 Standard (《国际中文教育中文水平等级标准》), published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, 2022 revision. Radical classifications follow the Kangxi radical system (康熙部首).