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Chinese keys (214 radicals) · 部首

Chinese is not written with an alphabet: each character is a picture-built sign, and the 214 keys (radicals, 部首) are the parts it is built FROM. Most characters are two-part: a KEY hinting at the meaning + a phonetic hinting at the sound — 妈 mā 'mother' = 女 woman (key) + 马 mǎ (sound). Dictionaries file every character under exactly one key, which is why they were called 'keys' in the first place: they unlock the dictionary. Learn the top 50 and unfamiliar characters stop being noise: you'll see water in 河湖海, heart in 想忆怕, speech in 说话请. Keys are numbered and grouped here by their TRADITIONAL stroke count, because that is what the Kangxi index counts and what a paper dictionary will ask you for — so 见 files under seven strokes even though you write it in four, on account of 見. The glyph shown first is the simplified form a Mandarin reader meets; the traditional form Cantonese uses is in the Variants column. The IPA shown is the key's own Mandarin reading; inside a character the key is usually silent meaning, not sound.

Han characters (logographic — signs carry meaning, not sound) · written left to right · used here by Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese

214 signs

Stroke count is how you look a key up. This is what it is ABOUT — and a key can be several things at once: 魚 is an animal, a food and the fishing one. The 31 with no domain are the structural strokes; they were never about anything, and exist to describe the shape of a character.

The keys, grouped by what they mean →

Showing 214 of 214 keys

#	Sign	Variants	Name	Roman	IPA	Meaning	Group	About
1	一	—	yī	`yī`	i˥	one	1 stroke	Numbers
2	丨	—	shù	`shù`	ʂu˥˩	line	1 stroke
3	丶	—	diǎn	`diǎn`	tjɛn˨˩˦	dot	1 stroke
4	丿	乀乁	piě	`piě`	pʰjɛ˨˩˦	slash	1 stroke
5	乙	乚乛	yǐ	`yǐ`	i˨˩˦	second	1 stroke	Numbers
6	亅	—	gōu	`gōu`	kou˥	hook	1 stroke
7	二	—	èr	`èr`	ɚ˥˩	two	2 strokes	Numbers
8	亠	—	tóu	`tóu`	tʰou˧˥	lid	2 strokes
9	人	亻	rén	`rén`	ʐən˧˥	person	2 strokes	SocietyBody
10	儿	—	ér	`ér`	ɚ˧˥	legs	2 strokes	Body
11	入	—	rù	`rù`	ʐu˥˩	enter	2 strokes
12	八	丷	bā	`bā`	pa˥	eight	2 strokes	Numbers
13	冂	—	jiǒng	`jiǒng`	tɕjʊŋ˨˩˦	down box	2 strokes
14	冖	—	mì	`mì`	mi˥˩	cover	2 strokes	Home
15	冫	—	bīng	`bīng`	piŋ˥	ice	2 strokes	Nature
16	几	—	jī	`jī`	tɕi˥	table	2 strokes	Home
17	凵	—	qǔ	`qǔ`	tɕʰy˨˩˦	open box	2 strokes
18	刀	刂	dāo	`dāo`	tau˥	knife	2 strokes	Tools / weapons
19	力	—	lì	`lì`	li˥˩	power	2 strokes	Body
20	勹	—	bāo	`bāo`	pau˥	wrap	2 strokes
21	匕	—	bǐ	`bǐ`	pi˨˩˦	ladle	2 strokes	FoodTools / weapons
22	匚	—	fāng	`fāng`	faŋ˥	right open box	2 strokes
23	匸	—	xǐ	`xǐ`	ɕi˨˩˦	hiding enclosure	2 strokes
24	十	—	shí	`shí`	ʂɻ̩˧˥	ten	2 strokes	Numbers
25	卜	—	bǔ	`bǔ`	pu˨˩˦	divination	2 strokes	Ceremonies
26	卩	—	jié	`jié`	tɕjɛ˧˥	seal	2 strokes	Society
27	厂	—	hàn	`hàn`	xan˥˩	cliff	2 strokes	Nature
28	厶	—	sī	`sī`	sɹ̩˥	private	2 strokes
29	又	—	yòu	`yòu`	jou˥˩	again	2 strokes	Body
30	口	—	kǒu	`kǒu`	kʰou˨˩˦	mouth	3 strokes	Body
31	囗	—	wéi	`wéi`	wei˧˥	enclosure	3 strokes	Home
32	土	—	tǔ	`tǔ`	tʰu˨˩˦	earth	3 strokes	NatureAgriculture
33	士	—	shì	`shì`	ʂɻ̩˥˩	scholar	3 strokes	Society
34	夂	—	zhǐ	`zhǐ`	ʈ͡ʂɻ̩˨˩˦	go	3 strokes
35	夊	—	suī	`suī`	swei˥	go slowly	3 strokes
36	夕	—	xī	`xī`	ɕi˥	night	3 strokes	Nature
37	大	—	dà	`dà`	ta˥˩	big	3 strokes
38	女	—	nǚ	`nǚ`	ny˨˩˦	woman	3 strokes	SocietyBody
39	子	—	zǐ	`zǐ`	t͡sɹ̩˨˩˦	child	3 strokes	Society
40	宀	—	mián	`mián`	mjɛn˧˥	roof	3 strokes	Home
41	寸	—	cùn	`cùn`	t͡sʰwən˥˩	inch	3 strokes	Numbers
42	小	—	xiǎo	`xiǎo`	ɕjɑʊ˨˩˦	small	3 strokes
43	尢	尣	yóu	`yóu`	jou˧˥	lame	3 strokes	Body
44	尸	—	shī	`shī`	ʂɻ̩˥	corpse	3 strokes	BodyCeremonies
45	屮	—	chè	`chè`	ʈ͡ʂʰɤ˥˩	sprout	3 strokes	NatureAgriculture
46	山	—	shān	`shān`	ʂan˥	mountain	3 strokes	Nature
47	川	巛巜	chuān	`chuān`	ʈ͡ʂʰwan˥	river	3 strokes	Nature
48	工	—	gōng	`gōng`	kʊŋ˥	work	3 strokes	Tools / weaponsSociety
49	己	—	jǐ	`jǐ`	tɕi˨˩˦	oneself	3 strokes
50	巾	—	jīn	`jīn`	tɕin˥	towel	3 strokes	Clothing
51	干	—	gān	`gān`	kan˥	dry	3 strokes	Tools / weapons
52	幺	—	yāo	`yāo`	jɑʊ˥	thread	3 strokes	Clothing
53	广	—	guǎng	`guǎng`	kwaŋ˨˩˦	shelter	3 strokes	Home
54	廴	—	yǐn	`yǐn`	in˨˩˦	stride	3 strokes
55	廾	—	gǒng	`gǒng`	kʊŋ˨˩˦	hands joined	3 strokes	Body
56	弋	—	yì	`yì`	i˥˩	shoot with a bow	3 strokes	Tools / weapons
57	弓	—	gōng	`gōng`	kʊŋ˥	bow	3 strokes	Tools / weapons
58	彐	彑	jì	`jì`	tɕi˥˩	snout	3 strokes	Animals
59	彡	—	shān	`shān`	ʂan˥	hair	3 strokes	Body
60	彳	—	chì	`chì`	ʈ͡ʂʰɻ̩˥˩	step	3 strokes
61	心	忄	xīn	`xīn`	ɕin˥	heart	4 strokes	Body
62	戈	—	gē	`gē`	kɤ˥	spear	4 strokes	Tools / weapons
63	户	—	hù	`hù`	xu˥˩	door	4 strokes	Home
64	手	扌	shǒu	`shǒu`	ʂou˨˩˦	hand	4 strokes	Body
65	支	—	zhī	`zhī`	ʈ͡ʂɻ̩˥	branch	4 strokes	Nature
66	攴	攵	pū	`pū`	pʰu˥	rap	4 strokes	Tools / weapons
67	文	—	wén	`wén`	wən˧˥	script	4 strokes	Society
68	斗	—	dǒu	`dǒu`	tou˨˩˦	dipper	4 strokes	Tools / weaponsNumbers
69	斤	—	jīn	`jīn`	tɕin˥	axe	4 strokes	Tools / weapons
70	方	—	fāng	`fāng`	faŋ˥	square	4 strokes
71	无	—	wú	`wú`	u˧˥	not	4 strokes
72	日	—	rì	`rì`	ʐɻ̩˥˩	sun	4 strokes	Nature
73	曰	—	yuē	`yuē`	ɥɛ˥	say	4 strokes	Society
74	月	—	yuè	`yuè`	ɥɛ˥˩	moon	4 strokes	Nature
75	木	—	mù	`mù`	mu˥˩	tree	4 strokes	Nature
76	欠	—	qiàn	`qiàn`	tɕʰjɛn˥˩	lack	4 strokes	Body
77	止	—	zhǐ	`zhǐ`	ʈ͡ʂɻ̩˨˩˦	stop	4 strokes	Body
78	歹	—	dǎi	`dǎi`	tai˨˩˦	death	4 strokes	Ceremonies
79	殳	—	shū	`shū`	ʂu˥	weapon	4 strokes	Tools / weapons
80	母	毋	mǔ	`mǔ`	mu˨˩˦	mother	4 strokes	Society
81	比	—	bǐ	`bǐ`	pi˨˩˦	compare	4 strokes
82	毛	—	máo	`máo`	mɑʊ˧˥	fur	4 strokes	AnimalsBody
83	氏	—	shì	`shì`	ʂɻ̩˥˩	clan	4 strokes	Society
84	气	—	qì	`qì`	tɕʰi˥˩	steam	4 strokes	Nature
85	水	氵	shuǐ	`shuǐ`	ʂwei˨˩˦	water	4 strokes	Nature
86	火	灬	huǒ	`huǒ`	xwo˨˩˦	fire	4 strokes	Nature
87	爪	爫	zhǎo	`zhǎo`	ʈ͡ʂɑʊ˨˩˦	claw	4 strokes	AnimalsBody
88	父	—	fù	`fù`	fu˥˩	father	4 strokes	Society
89	爻	—	yáo	`yáo`	jɑʊ˧˥	lines on a trigram	4 strokes	Ceremonies
90	爿	—	qiáng	`qiáng`	tɕʰjɑŋ˧˥	half of a tree trunk	4 strokes	Home
91	片	—	piàn	`piàn`	pʰjɛn˥˩	slice	4 strokes	Tools / weapons
92	牙	—	yá	`yá`	ja˧˥	tooth	4 strokes	Body
93	牛	牜	niú	`niú`	njoʊ˧˥	cow	4 strokes	AnimalsAgriculture
94	犬	犭	quǎn	`quǎn`	tɕʰɥɛn˨˩˦	dog	4 strokes	Animals
95	玄	—	xuán	`xuán`	ɕɥɛn˧˥	profound	5 strokes
96	玉	王	yù	`yù`	y˥˩	jade	5 strokes	NatureCeremonies
97	瓜	—	guā	`guā`	kwa˥	melon	5 strokes	FoodAgriculture
98	瓦	—	wǎ	`wǎ`	wa˨˩˦	tile	5 strokes	Home
99	甘	—	gān	`gān`	kan˥	sweet	5 strokes	Food
100	生	—	shēng	`shēng`	ʂəŋ˥	life	5 strokes	Nature
101	用	—	yòng	`yòng`	jʊŋ˥˩	use	5 strokes	Tools / weapons
102	田	—	tián	`tián`	tʰjɛn˧˥	field	5 strokes	Agriculture
103	疋	—	pǐ	`pǐ`	pʰi˨˩˦	cloth	5 strokes	Clothing
104	疒	—	bìng	`bìng`	piŋ˥˩	ill	5 strokes	Body
105	癶	—	bō	`bō`	pwo˥	footsteps	5 strokes	Body
106	白	—	bái	`bái`	pai˧˥	white	5 strokes	Colours
107	皮	—	pí	`pí`	pʰi˧˥	skin	5 strokes	Body
108	皿	—	mǐn	`mǐn`	min˨˩˦	dish	5 strokes	FoodHome
109	目	—	mù	`mù`	mu˥˩	eye	5 strokes	Body
110	矛	—	máo	`máo`	mɑʊ˧˥	spear	5 strokes	Tools / weapons
111	矢	—	shǐ	`shǐ`	ʂɻ̩˨˩˦	arrow	5 strokes	Tools / weapons
112	石	—	shí	`shí`	ʂɻ̩˧˥	stone	5 strokes	Nature
113	示	礻	shì	`shì`	ʂɻ̩˥˩	spirit	5 strokes	Ceremonies
114	禸	—	róu	`róu`	ʐou˧˥	track	5 strokes	Animals
115	禾	—	hé	`hé`	xɤ˧˥	grain	5 strokes	AgricultureFood
116	穴	—	xué	`xué`	ɕɥɛ˧˥	cave	5 strokes	HomeNature
117	立	—	lì	`lì`	li˥˩	stand	5 strokes	Body
118	竹	—	zhú	`zhú`	ʈ͡ʂu˧˥	bamboo	6 strokes	NatureAgriculture
119	米	—	mǐ	`mǐ`	mi˨˩˦	rice	6 strokes	FoodAgriculture
120	糸	纟	sī	`sī`	sɹ̩˥	silk	6 strokes	Clothing
121	缶	—	fǒu	`fǒu`	fou˨˩˦	jar	6 strokes	HomeFood
122	网	罒	wǎng	`wǎng`	waŋ˨˩˦	net	6 strokes	FishingTools / weapons
123	羊	—	yáng	`yáng`	jɑŋ˧˥	sheep	6 strokes	AnimalsAgriculture
124	羽	—	yǔ	`yǔ`	y˨˩˦	feather	6 strokes	Animals
125	老	—	lǎo	`lǎo`	lɑʊ˨˩˦	old	6 strokes	Society
126	而	—	ér	`ér`	ɚ˧˥	and	6 strokes
127	耒	—	lěi	`lěi`	lei˨˩˦	plow	6 strokes	AgricultureTools / weapons
128	耳	—	ěr	`ěr`	ɚ˨˩˦	ear	6 strokes	Body
129	聿	—	yù	`yù`	y˥˩	brush	6 strokes	Tools / weaponsSociety
130	肉	—	ròu	`ròu`	ʐou˥˩	meat	6 strokes	FoodBody
131	臣	—	chén	`chén`	ʈ͡ʂʰən˧˥	minister	6 strokes	Society
132	自	—	zì	`zì`	t͡sɹ̩˥˩	oneself	6 strokes	Body
133	至	—	zhì	`zhì`	ʈ͡ʂɻ̩˥˩	arrive	6 strokes
134	臼	—	jiù	`jiù`	tɕjoʊ˥˩	mortar	6 strokes	FoodTools / weapons
135	舌	—	shé	`shé`	ʂɤ˧˥	tongue	6 strokes	Body
136	舛	—	chuǎn	`chuǎn`	ʈ͡ʂʰwan˨˩˦	contrary	6 strokes
137	舟	—	zhōu	`zhōu`	ʈ͡ʂou˥	boat	6 strokes	FishingTools / weapons
138	艮	—	gèn	`gèn`	kən˥˩	mountain	6 strokes	Nature
139	色	—	sè	`sè`	sɤ˥˩	color	6 strokes	Colours
140	艸	艹	cǎo	`cǎo`	t͡sʰɑʊ˨˩˦	grass	6 strokes	NatureAgriculture
141	虍	—	hǔ	`hǔ`	xu˨˩˦	tiger	6 strokes	Animals
142	虫	—	chóng	`chóng`	ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ˧˥	insect	6 strokes	Animals
143	血	—	xuè	`xuè`	ɕɥɛ˥˩	blood	6 strokes	BodyCeremonies
144	行	—	xíng	`xíng`	ɕiŋ˧˥	walk	6 strokes	Society
145	衣	衤	yī	`yī`	i˥	clothes	6 strokes	Clothing
146	西	覀	xī	`xī`	ɕi˥	west	6 strokes
147	见	見	jiàn	`jiàn`	tɕjɛn˥˩	see	7 strokes	Body
148	角	—	jiǎo	`jiǎo`	tɕjɑʊ˨˩˦	horn	7 strokes	Animals
149	言	讠	yán	`yán`	jɛn˧˥	speech	7 strokes	Society
150	谷	—	gǔ	`gǔ`	ku˨˩˦	valley	7 strokes	Nature
151	豆	—	dòu	`dòu`	tou˥˩	bean	7 strokes	FoodCeremonies
152	豕	—	shǐ	`shǐ`	ʂɻ̩˨˩˦	pig	7 strokes	AnimalsAgriculture
153	豸	—	zhì	`zhì`	ʈ͡ʂɻ̩˥˩	badger	7 strokes	Animals
154	贝	貝	bèi	`bèi`	pei˥˩	shell	7 strokes	Society
155	赤	—	chì	`chì`	ʈ͡ʂʰɻ̩˥˩	red	7 strokes	Colours
156	走	—	zǒu	`zǒu`	t͡sou˨˩˦	walk	7 strokes	Body
157	足	—	zú	`zú`	t͡su˧˥	foot	7 strokes	Body
158	身	—	shēn	`shēn`	ʂən˥	body	7 strokes	Body
159	车	車	chē	`chē`	ʈ͡ʂʰɤ˥	cart	7 strokes	Tools / weapons
160	辛	—	xīn	`xīn`	ɕin˥	bitter	7 strokes	Food
161	辰	—	chén	`chén`	ʈ͡ʂʰən˧˥	morning	7 strokes	Nature
162	辶	—	chuò	`chuò`	ʈ͡ʂʰwo˥˩	walk (road)	7 strokes	Society
163	邑	阝(right)	yì	`yì`	i˥˩	city	7 strokes	Society
164	酉	—	yǒu	`yǒu`	jou˨˩˦	wine	7 strokes	FoodCeremonies
165	釆	—	biàn	`biàn`	pjɛn˥˩	distinguish	7 strokes
166	里	—	lǐ	`lǐ`	li˨˩˦	village	7 strokes	Society
167	金	钅	jīn	`jīn`	tɕin˥	metal	8 strokes	Tools / weaponsNature
168	长	長	cháng	`cháng`	ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ˧˥	long	8 strokes
169	门	門	mén	`mén`	mən˧˥	gate	8 strokes	Home
170	阜	阝(left)	fù	`fù`	fu˥˩	mound	8 strokes	Nature
171	隶	—	lì	`lì`	li˥˩	slave	8 strokes	Society
172	隹	—	zhuī	`zhuī`	ʈ͡ʂwei˥	short-tailed bird	8 strokes	Animals
173	雨	—	yǔ	`yǔ`	y˨˩˦	rain	8 strokes	Nature
174	青	—	qīng	`qīng`	tɕʰiŋ˥	blue-green	8 strokes	Colours
175	非	—	fēi	`fēi`	fei˥	wrong	8 strokes
176	面	—	miàn	`miàn`	mjɛn˥˩	face	9 strokes	Body
177	革	—	gé	`gé`	kɤ˧˥	leather	9 strokes	ClothingAnimals
178	韦	韋	wéi	`wéi`	wei˧˥	soft leather	9 strokes	Clothing
179	韭	—	jiǔ	`jiǔ`	tɕjoʊ˨˩˦	leek	9 strokes	FoodAgriculture
180	音	—	yīn	`yīn`	in˥	sound	9 strokes	Society
181	页	頁	yè	`yè`	jɛ˥˩	page	9 strokes	Body
182	风	風	fēng	`fēng`	fəŋ˥	wind	9 strokes	Nature
183	飞	飛	fēi	`fēi`	fei˥	fly	9 strokes	Animals
184	食	饣飠	shí	`shí`	ʂɻ̩˧˥	eat	9 strokes	Food
185	首	—	shǒu	`shǒu`	ʂou˨˩˦	head	9 strokes	Body
186	香	—	xiāng	`xiāng`	ɕjɑŋ˥	fragrant	9 strokes	Food
187	马	馬	mǎ	`mǎ`	ma˨˩˦	horse	10 strokes	Animals
188	骨	—	gǔ	`gǔ`	ku˨˩˦	bone	10 strokes	Body
189	高	—	gāo	`gāo`	kɑʊ˥	high	10 strokes	Home
190	髟	—	biāo	`biāo`	pjɑʊ˥	long hair	10 strokes	Body
191	鬥	—	dòu	`dòu`	tou˥˩	fight	10 strokes	Society
192	鬯	—	chàng	`chàng`	ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ˥˩	sacrificial wine	10 strokes	CeremoniesFood
193	鬲	—	lì	`lì`	li˥˩	cauldron	10 strokes	FoodHome
194	鬼	—	guǐ	`guǐ`	kwei˨˩˦	ghost	10 strokes	Ceremonies
195	鱼	魚	yú	`yú`	y˧˥	fish	11 strokes	AnimalsFishingFood
196	鸟	鳥	niǎo	`niǎo`	njɑʊ˨˩˦	bird	11 strokes	Animals
197	卤	—	lǔ	`lǔ`	lu˨˩˦	salty	11 strokes	Food
198	鹿	—	lù	`lù`	lu˥˩	deer	11 strokes	Animals
199	麦	麥	mài	`mài`	mai˥˩	wheat	11 strokes	AgricultureFood
200	麻	—	má	`má`	ma˧˥	hemp	11 strokes	AgricultureClothing
201	黄	黃	huáng	`huáng`	xwɑŋ˧˥	yellow	12 strokes	Colours
202	黍	—	shǔ	`shǔ`	ʂu˨˩˦	millet	12 strokes	AgricultureFood
203	黑	—	hēi	`hēi`	xei˥	black	12 strokes	Colours
204	黹	—	zhǐ	`zhǐ`	ʈ͡ʂɻ̩˨˩˦	embroidery	12 strokes	Clothing
205	黾	黽	mǐn	`mǐn`	min˨˩˦	frog	13 strokes	Animals
206	鼎	—	dǐng	`dǐng`	tiŋ˨˩˦	tripod	13 strokes	CeremoniesFoodHome
207	鼓	—	gǔ	`gǔ`	ku˨˩˦	drum	13 strokes	CeremoniesTools / weapons
208	鼠	—	shǔ	`shǔ`	ʂu˨˩˦	rat	13 strokes	Animals
209	鼻	—	bí	`bí`	pi˧˥	nose	14 strokes	Body
210	齐	齊	qí	`qí`	tɕʰi˧˥	even	14 strokes
211	齿	齒	chǐ	`chǐ`	ʈ͡ʂʰɻ̩˨˩˦	tooth	15 strokes	Body
212	龙	龍	lóng	`lóng`	lʊŋ˧˥	dragon	16 strokes	AnimalsCeremonies
213	龟	龜	guī	`guī`	kwei˥	turtle	16 strokes	AnimalsCeremonies
214	龠	—	yuè	`yuè`	ɥɛ˥˩	flute	17 strokes	Ceremonies

Groups: 1 stroke (the whole set starts with a single line, a dot and a stroke — 一丨丶) · 2 strokes (where most of the common ones live: 人刀力十又) · 3 strokes (and the rest of them: 口土女子宀山巾弓) · 4 strokes (the biggest group of all, and the one worth learning first — 心手日月木水火犬) · 5 strokes (田目石禾穴立 — still everyday, still everywhere) · 6 strokes (竹米糸羊耳肉舟虫 — the last really productive group) · 7 strokes (見言貝走足車里 — mostly whole characters in their own right) · 8 strokes (金長門隹雨青非 — nine of them, and you already know most) · 9 strokes (面革音頁風食首香) · 10 strokes (馬骨高髟鬥鬯鬲鬼) · 11 strokes (魚鳥鹵鹿麥麻) · 12 strokes (黃黍黑黹) · 13 strokes (黽鼎鼓鼠) · 14 strokes (鼻齊) · 15 strokes (齒 — on its own) · 16 strokes (龍龜) · 17 strokes (龠 — one radical, seventeen strokes, and almost no characters use it)

Most used combinations

The sequences you'll meet constantly — learn them as units.

Sequence	Sound	What's going on	Example
氵+ X (left)	—	The water key squeezes to three drops on the LEFT. It can't sit anywhere else — position is part of the key's identity.	河 river · 湖 lake · 海 sea · 酒 alcohol
亻+ X (left)	—	Person, compressed to the left side.	你 you · 他 he · 住 to live · 什 what
扌+ X (left)	—	Hand on the left = the character is probably an action you do with hands.	打 hit · 拉 pull · 推 push · 找 find
讠+ X (left)	—	Speech on the left = talking is involved.	说 speak · 话 words · 请 please · 谢 thank
忄+ X (left)	—	Heart on the left = a feeling.	怕 fear · 快 fast/happy · 忙 busy · 惊 startled
艹 + X (top)	—	Grass ONLY ever sits on top.	花 flower · 草 grass · 茶 tea · 药 medicine
宀 + X (top)	—	The roof covers the character: things under a roof.	家 home · 安 peace (woman under a roof) · 室 room
灬 (bottom)	—	Fire flattens into four licks of flame at the BOTTOM.	热 hot · 煮 boil · 照 shine
囗 + X (around)	—	The enclosure wraps the whole character.	国 country · 园 garden · 回 return · 因 because
辶 + X (wrap below)	—	The road key hugs the bottom-left: movement.	这 this · 过 pass · 送 send · 远 far

Rules of the system

How the signs behave together.

Sequence	Sound	What's going on	Example
key + phonetic	—	~80% of characters are semantic-phonetic compounds: the key gives the topic, the rest hints the sound.	妈 mā = 女 woman + 马 mǎ (sound) · 洋 yáng ocean = 氵water + 羊 yáng (sound)
亻 vs 人 vs 入	—	Compressed variants only appear in their position: full 人 stands alone or on top (个), 亻 only on the left. And 入 'enter' is a different key that merely looks like 人 — the classic beginner confusion.

Incompatible combinations

What this writing system does not allow — knowing the impossible prunes the search space.

Sequence	Sound	What's going on	Example
氵 on the right / 艹 at the bottom	—	Position variants are fixed: 氵 never appears on the right, 艹 never at the bottom, 灬 never on top, left-阝 is mound (阜) while right-阝 is city (邑) — SAME shape, different key depending on side.