Select Next stroke to begin. Trace each highlighted stroke, then select Next again. After the final stroke, Next shows the complete character. Select Next once more to begin again.
Complete character · 4 strokes
01 · MEET THE RADICAL
What should you notice?
Look for three dots on the left. In 河 (river), 海 (sea), and 洗 (to wash), 氵 gives a useful clue about water.
The pinyin above names this radical’s main form. Each example character has its own pronunciation and meaning. Use the radical as a memory aid, and learn the whole character too.
Recognize its forms
A radical can change shape to fit inside a character. Compare these forms with the main shape above; simplified and traditional writing can also use different forms.
Variants
02 · CONNECT SHAPE AND MEANING
Find it in these characters
Look for the shared component. Read each character’s pinyin aloud, then connect it to its English meaning. The connection may be less obvious in some characters.
hé
river; the Yellow River
hǎi
ocean; sea
pāo
puffed; swollen
xǐ
to wash; to bathe
03 · TRY TO RECALL
A quick memory check
Without looking back, can you remember this character’s pronunciation and meaning? Can you spot the radical or its variant?
Reveal pronunciation and meaning
hé · river; the Yellow River
Compare the character with 水 and its forms 氵 / 氺. If you missed it, revisit the examples and try again.
Next, trace the radical using the stroke guide above. Try writing it from memory, then check the shape and stroke order.
Explore more: history, regional forms, and readings
These reference details show how the radical has changed across time and writing traditions. You can return to them after learning the main form.
