比

Compare Radical (比)

bǐ · 4 strokes

The compare radical (比) is a less common radical in Chinese. It appears in 4 characters related to compare and associated concepts. 4 characters: 1 in HSK 2, 1 in HSK 4, 1 in HSK 7-9, 1 in HSK 7-9. Radical classifications follow the Kangxi radical system. Character data is based on the HSK 3.0 Standard (CLEC 2022 syllabus).

Radical vs. Component: 比 is also a character component. As a radical, it classifies characters in dictionaries. As a component, it appears as a building block contributing meaning, sound, or structure. For component-specific details including role analysis and position patterns, see the Compare Component (比) page.

Compare Radical at a Glance

Stroke Count4
Total Characters4
Most Common HSK LevelHSK 2 (1 characters)
Avg. Character Strokes7
ClassificationKangxi Radicals

All Compare Radical Characters

HSK 2 (1 characters)

比bǐBelgium

HSK 4 (1 characters)

毕bìthe whole of

HSK 7-9 (1 characters)

毙bìto die

HSK 7-9 (1 characters)

毗píto adjoin

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the compare radical mean in Chinese characters?
The compare radical (比) signals a semantic connection to compare-related concepts. When you see 比 in a character, it typically indicates the character's meaning involves compare or associated ideas. It appears in 4 characters in the HSK character set. Radical classifications follow the Kangxi radical system, the traditional standard for organizing Chinese characters.
How many characters use the compare radical?
There are 4 characters with the compare radical (比) in the HSK 3.0 character set (CLEC 2022 syllabus): 1 in HSK 2, 1 in HSK 4, 1 in HSK 7-9, 1 in HSK 7-9. The distribution across HSK levels reflects how fundamental compare-related concepts are at each stage of Mandarin learning.
What are the most common compare radical characters?
By frequency of use, the most common characters with the compare radical (比) are: 比 (bǐ, "Belgium"), 毕 (bì, "the whole of"), 毙 (bì, "to die"), 毗 (pí, "to adjoin"). These high-frequency characters are among the first compare-related characters most learners encounter.
What HSK levels include compare radical characters?
Characters with the compare radical (比) appear across 4 HSK levels: 1 in HSK 2, 1 in HSK 4, 1 in HSK 7-9, 1 in HSK 7-9. The largest concentration is at HSK 2 with 1 characters. Earlier HSK levels introduce the most common compare-related characters, while advanced levels add specialized or literary terms.

Sources & Standards

Radical classifications on this page follow the Kangxi radical system (康熙部首), the standard set of 214 radicals codified in the Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典, 1716). Character data is based on 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.