部首 Bushu

Japanese Kanji Radicals — The Building Blocks of Kanji

Learn all 18 essential Japanese kanji radicals for JLPT N5. Each radical explained with meaning, memory tips, and example kanji — in English, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Mongolian.

What are kanji radicals?

Kanji radicals (部首, bushu) are the building blocks of kanji characters. Every kanji contains at least one radical — a component that hints at meaning or pronunciation. Learning radicals is the fastest shortcut to understanding hundreds of kanji at once. For JLPT N5, mastering these 18 radicals helps you decode most of the 110 kanji you need to know.

🌿 Nature

The 日 radical represents the sun.

The 月 radical represents the moon.

The 木 radical is a pictogram of a tree — a vertical trunk with roots below and branches above.

The 山 radical is a direct pictogram of a mountain with three peaks.

The 川 radical depicts three flowing lines — the streams of a river.

The 水 radical represents water.

The 火 radical represents fire and flames.

The 土 radical represents earth, soil, and the ground.

👤 People

The 人 radical represents a human figure — two strokes depicting a person standing with legs spread.

The 女 radical depicts a woman in a kneeling or graceful posture.

The 子 radical represents a child with arms outstretched and legs below.

The 男 radical combines 田 (rice field) and 力 (strength/power) — a man is one who uses strength in the fields.

👁️ Body

The 目 radical is a pictogram of an eye — originally a vertical oval with a pupil, rotated to its current horizontal form.

The 口 radical is a simple square representing the mouth — an opening through which we speak, eat, and breathe.

The 手 radical is a pictogram of an open hand with five fingers.

心

also: 忄

こころ・しん

Heart / Mind / Feeling

4 strokes

心思

The 心 radical represents the heart — both the physical organ and the seat of emotions and thoughts.

🏗️ Object

The 田 radical depicts a bird's-eye view of a rice paddy divided into sections by irrigation paths.

💬 Concept

The 言 radical represents speech and words — the mouth speaking with vibrations of sound.

📚 N5 only — more levels coming

Currently showing N5 kanji for each radical. N4 and N3 kanji will be added as those levels are released. Each radical page will automatically update to show kanji across all levels.

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