When the formation data identifies 子 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
← All 214 radical families
Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
子
Radical 39 of 214 · 3 strokes
Child
zǐ
Unicode uses 子 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is offspring, child; fruit, seed of; first earthly branch. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
13 course characters117 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.
子zison, child; seed, egg; fruit; small thingDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of a small child with its two arms outstretched.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 了 + 一
HSK words with 子58 words in this course
字zìcharacter, letter, symbol, wordDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 子 represents the sound. The 宀 (roof) component is based on the original meaning "raise; nurture". The meaning later shifted to "educate", "word", and "writing".
- 宀Semantic componentroof
- 子Phonetic componentson; child
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 宀 + 子
HSK words with 字9 words in this course
学xuélearning, knowledge, science; to study, to go to school; -ologyDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Simplified form of 學. Originally composed of the numbers five (㐅) and six (六), representing study of arithmetic. Later two hands (又) were added on the left and right side of the character, possibly depicting counting with fingers or hands-on teaching. Finally a child (子) was added to the bottom, depicting a child being educated. The bottom part of 六 (six) was reanalyzed as 宀 (roof) and interpreted as a building for learning.
- ◎Simplified formcharacterless component
- 宀Pictographic componentroof
- 子Pictographic componentson; child
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- ⺍ + 冖 + 子
HSK words with 学16 words in this course
學xuélearning, knowledge, science; to study, to go to school; -ologyDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Originally composed of the numbers five (㐅) and six (六), representing study of arithmetic. Later two hands (又) were added on the left and right side of the character, possibly depicting counting with fingers or hands-on teaching. Finally a child (子) was added to the bottom, depicting a child being educated. The bottom part of 六 (six) was reanalyzed as 宀 (roof) and interpreted as a building for learning.
- 㐅Pictographic componentfive
- 六Pictographic componentsix
- 又Pictographic component(hand); again
- 又Pictographic component(hand); again
- 宀Pictographic componentroof
- 子Pictographic componentson; child
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 冖 + 子
HSK words with 學16 words in this course
孩háibaby, child; childrenDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 子 represents the meaning and 亥 represents the sound.
- 子Semantic componentson; child
- 亥Phonetic component12th earthly branch
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 子 + 亥
HSK words with 孩1 word in this course
季jìa quarter-year, a season; surnameDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Based on the original meaning "young". 禾 represents short stalks of grain, 子 represents a young child.
- 禾Semantic componentgrain
- 子Semantic componentson; child
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 禾 + 子
HSK words with 季4 words in this course
存cúnto exist; to survive, to maintain; to keep, to store; to depositDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 子 represents the meaning and 才 represents the sound.
- 子Semantic componentson; child
- 才Phonetic componenttalent; just
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 才 + 子
HSK words with 存5 words in this course
孙sūngrandchild, descendent; surnameDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Simplified form of 孫. A grandson is a small (小) child (子).
- 子Semantic componentson; child
- 小Semantic componentsmall
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 子 + 小
HSK words with 孙1 word in this course
孫sūngrandchild, descendent; surnameDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Semantic compound of child (子) and 系 (relation; connection).
- 子Semantic componentson; child
- 系Semantic componentsystem; link; connection
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 子 + 系
HSK words with 孫1 word in this course
孕yùnpregnant; pregnancyDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A woman delivering 乃 a child 子
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 乃 + 子
HSK words with 孕2 words in this course
孝xiàofilial piety, obedience; mourningDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: Filial piety (孝) is the respect that the young (子) must have for their elders (老).
- 耂Semantic componentold
- 子Semantic componentson; child
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 耂 + 子
HSK words with 孝1 word in this course
孔kǒngopening, hole, orifice; greatDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: The mouth 乚 of a crying baby 子
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 子 + 乚
HSK words with 孔1 word in this course
孤gūorphaned; alone, lonely, solidaryDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 子 represents the meaning and 瓜 represents the sound.
- 子Semantic componentson; child
- 瓜Phonetic componentmelon; gourd; squash
- Category radical
- 子 child
- Visual structure
- 子 + 瓜
HSK words with 孤2 words 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.