Kanji - Level 30 - Radicals

Question 1

之

Answer 1

Hills
See the rolling hills with the road going off into the background to another hill? That’s why this is the hills radical.

Question 2

系

Answer 2

Lineage
A thread goes through the ground. It traces your lineage. You follow the thread all the way back through many generations, to find out your lineage involves Genghis Khan. Feel the thread and the dirt in your hand and actually trace the lineage.

Question 3

北

Answer 3

North
This radical is the same as the kanji. It means north.

Question 4

片

Answer 4

One sided
This looks a bit like a waiter walking toward you with a platter in their hands… but wait. It’s only half of a waiter. It’s a one sided waiter!

Question 5

監

Answer 5

Oversee
This radical is the same as the kanji. It means oversee.

Question 6

冘

Answer 6

Pirate
This kind of looks like big (大), which I think you’ll remember you learned by pretending this was a big guy. This big guy, however, has a funny leg… a peg leg. That makes him a pirate. Also, his arms are in the “YARRRR” position.

Question 7

甲

Answer 7

Turtle shell
Poor turtles. We don’t like them here. This is a turtle shell. See the shell with just a tail remaining? It’s the only thing we didn’t remove off the turtle. It’s just a shell with a tail, so basically it’s just a turtle shell.