When the formation data identifies 白 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
← All 214 radical families
Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
白
Radical 106 of 214 · 5 strokes
White
bái
Unicode uses 白 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is white; pure, unblemished; bright. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
6 course characters18 character–word links
Semantic–phonetic characters identify the component associated with historical pronunciation.
The primary dictionary radical is shown independently of any claim about modern meaning.
Character index
6 course characters
Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.
Showing 6 characters.
的deaim, goal; of; possessive particle; -self suffixDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 白 represents the meaning and 勺 represents the sound. The character is based on the original meaning "bright white", which is unrelated to the modern meaning.
- 白Semantic componentwhite
- 勺Phonetic componentspoon; ladle
- Category radical
- 白 white
- Visual structure
- 白 + 勺
HSK words with 的4 words in this course
白báiwhite; clear, pure, unblemished; brightDetails+
formation note
Formation: Origin unclear. Used in ancient texts to mean "white" and "hundred" (百).
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 白 white
- Visual structure
- 日
HSK words with 白6 words in this course
百bǎione hundred; numerous, manyDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 一 represents the meaning and 白 represents the sound.
- 一Semantic componentone
- 白Phonetic componentwhite
- Category radical
- 白 white
- Visual structure
- 一 + 白
HSK words with 百4 words in this course
皂zàosoap; black; menial servantDetails+
dictionary category
Dictionary relationship: Unicode indexes this character under 白 “white.” The modern meaning connection may be indirect or historical.
- Category radical
- 白 white
- Visual structure
- 白 + 七
HSK words with 皂1 word in this course
皇huángroyal, imperial; ruler, superiorDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Depicts a decorative crown above 王 (king).
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- 王Semantic componentking
- Category radical
- 白 white
- Visual structure
- 白 + 王
HSK words with 皇2 words in this course
皆jiēall, every, everybodyDetails+
formation note
Formation: Origin unclear.
- 比Role unclearcompare
- 白Role unclearwhite
- Category radical
- 白 white
- Visual structure
- 比 + 白
HSK words with 皆1 word in this course
Classification: Unicode 17.0 kRSUnicode. Structure: Make Me a Hanzi. Formation: Dong Chinese Lexicon where available, with a documented Make Me a Hanzi fallback. Method and licenses.