When the formation data identifies 八 / 丷 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
← All 214 radical families
Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
八
Radical 12 of 214 · 2 strokes
Eight
bā · forms 八 / 丷
Unicode uses 八 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is eight; all around, all sides. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
13 course characters89 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
13 course characters
Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.
Showing 13 characters.
八bāeight; all around, all sidesDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of two lines facing away from each other. The current meaning "eight" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "separate" is now written as 别.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 八 eight
- Visual structure
- Not available
HSK words with 八1 word in this course
六liùsixDetails+
formation note
Formation: Originally a pictograph of a tent or building. Unrelated to modern meaning.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 八 eight
- Visual structure
- 亠 + 八
HSK words with 六1 word in this course
关guānfrontier pass; to close, to shut; relationDetails+
simplified form
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 門 represents the meaning and 𢇇 represents the sound. The simplified character 关 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 關. The traditional component 門 was removed for simplification.
- 門Removed in simplifieddoor; gate
- 关Simplified formshut; turn off; involve
- Category radical
- 丷 eight
- Visual structure
- 丷 + 天
- Also indexed under
- 大 big
HSK words with 关13 words in this course
兴xìngto thrive, to prosper, to flourishDetails+
simplified form
Formation: Depicts four hands (舁) working together (同) to raise something. The simplified character 兴 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 興.
- 舁Simplified formlift; raise
- 同Simplified formsame; together
- Category radical
- 八 eight
- Visual structure
- ⺍ + 一 + 八
HSK words with 兴9 words in this course
公gōngfair, equitable; public; dukeDetails+
formation note
Formation: Originally a pictograph of a vessel for holding liquid. The original meaning is now written as 瓮, with the 瓦 (pottery) component added at the bottom. The current meaning "public" is a phonetic loan.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 八 eight
- Visual structure
- 八 + 厶
HSK words with 公25 words in this course
共gòngall, total; together; to shareDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Pictograph of two hands sharing an object.
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- 廾Pictographic componenttwo hands
- Category radical
- 八 eight
- Visual structure
- 廾 + 一 + 八
HSK words with 共7 words in this course
典diǎnlaw, canon; scripture, classic; documentationDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Depicts a book (冊) on a table.
- 冊Pictographic componentbook
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- Category radical
- 八 eight
- Visual structure
- 曲 + 八
HSK words with 典5 words in this course
其qíhis, her, its, their; thatDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of a basket, now written as 箕. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 八 eight
- Visual structure
- 甘 + 一 + 八
HSK words with 其10 words in this course
具jùtool, implement; to draw up, to writeDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Depicts two hands (廾) handling a cooking pot (鼎).
- 鼎Pictographic componentancient cooking pot
- 廾Pictographic componenttwo hands
- Category radical
- 八 eight
- Visual structure
- 目 + 一 + 八
HSK words with 具6 words in this course
养yǎngto raise, to rear, to bring up; to supportDetails+
simplified form
Formation: Simplified form of 養. Phonosemantic compound. 食 represents the meaning and 羊 represents the sound.
- 介Simplified formintroduce; lie between
- 羊Phonetic componentsheep; goat
- Category radical
- 丷 eight
- Visual structure
- 羊 + 儿
- Also indexed under
- 羊 sheep
HSK words with 养8 words in this course
兵bīngsoldier; troops, an army; warlikeDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Pictograph of two hands (廾) holding some sort of weapon.
- 斤Pictographic componentaxe
- 廾Pictographic componenttwo hands
- Category radical
- 八 eight
- Visual structure
- 丘 + 八
HSK words with 兵1 word in this course
兼jiānboth, and; at the same time; to unite, to combineDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Depicts a hand (又) holding two stalks of grain (禾).
- 禾Pictographic componentgrain
- 禾Pictographic componentgrain
- 又Pictographic component(hand); again
- Category radical
- 丷 eight
- Visual structure
- 丷 + 彐 + 禾
HSK words with 兼2 words in this course
兽shòubeast, animal; bestialDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: An animal with horns 丷, eyes 田, nose 一, and mouth 口
- Category radical
- 丷 eight
- Visual structure
- 丷 + 田 + 一 + 口
- Also indexed under
- 口 mouth
HSK words with 兽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.