1
vote
1answer
116 views

Why does Kanji radical not have the same definition for all kanjis

Well radical is a portion of the kanji that is used to list that kanji in the Kanji dictionary. It could represent the "general" meaning (whatever that is), it could represent the sound, or it could ...
3
votes
3answers
249 views

Is there a reliable translation of the kangxi radicals?

Inspired by the Wikipedia page on Kangxi radicals I decided to study the meaning and writing of radicals before I tackle the much more numerous kanji. But in working my way through the list, I started ...
3
votes
1answer
138 views

kanji composition question — why these radicals for 出?

My explanatory Kanji dictionary lists 山 and 冂 as radicals used in 出. I see how the first one would be used, but cannot understand the reasoning for the second one. I see two alternatives: 冂 is ...
14
votes
1answer
554 views

Are kanji characters made up of radicals only or could they contain strokes that are not radicals?

Inspired by this question of rounded or circular strokes in kanji, I got an idea to prove that there is no circular strokes in kanji by examining all kanji radicals, which is a lot less that examining ...
12
votes
2answers
454 views

Some questions about radicals

Are there certain rules for knowing what role plays a radical in a kanji? I've heard sometimes one radicals tells us about how to read the kanji and other radicals tells us the meaning of the kanji ...