When the formation data identifies 工 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
← All 214 radical families
Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
工
Radical 48 of 214 · 3 strokes
Work
gōng
Unicode uses 工 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is labor, work; worker, laborer. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
6 course characters32 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.
工gōnglabor, work; laborer, workerDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of a carpenter's tool.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 工 work
- Visual structure
- 一 + 丄
HSK words with 工14 words in this course
左zuǒleft; unorthodox, improperDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Pictograph of a left hand. The 工 (work) component was added later to represent the meaning "help; assist", now written as 佐.
- 𠂇Pictographic componentleft hand
- 工Semantic componentwork; craft
- Category radical
- 工 work
- Visual structure
- 工
HSK words with 左2 words in this course
差chàdifference, gap; almost, nearly; in error; an officerDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Depicts grain (麥) being rolled between the fingers in the left hand (左). Based on the original meaning "rub between fingers", now written as 搓. The meaning later shifted to "uneven" and "error".
- 麥Pictographic componentwheat
- 左Pictographic componentleft
- Category radical
- 工 work
- Visual structure
- 羊 + 工
HSK words with 差9 words in this course
巧qiǎoskillful, ingenious, cleverDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 工 represents the meaning and 丂 represents the sound.
- 工Semantic componentwork; craft
- 丂Phonetic componentbreath
- Category radical
- 工 work
- Visual structure
- 工 + 丂
HSK words with 巧4 words in this course
巨jùlarge, huge, gigantic; chiefDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of a carpenter's square, a tool for measuring right angles. Based on the original meaning "carpenter's square", now written as 矩. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 工 work
- Visual structure
- 匚
HSK words with 巨2 words in this course
巩gǒngto bind, to guard, to strengthen; firm, secure, strongDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 凡 represents the meaning and 工 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鞏.
- 凡Semantic component(plate); ordinary; commonplace
- 工Phonetic componentwork; craft
- Category radical
- 工 work
- Visual structure
- 工 + 凡
HSK words with 巩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.