Learn Chinese characters through their radicals

You need fewer characters than you think

• 1,940 characters with a picture and a story
• 214 radicals
• 66% of Stories text is the top 100 characters
• 98% of Stories text is the top 1,000 characters
• Free with a SayMei account

Stories numbers counted over all 169 books in SayMei Stories.

How it works

1. Start with the parts and build up from there
2. Follow the path from first pictures to HSK 6
3. See it, hear it and read the story behind it
4. Remember it with quick reviews
5. Watch your characters add up
6. Pick it up on your computer

The path runs from first pictures to HSK 6, 1,940 characters in all.

Frequently asked questions

Is Radicals free?

Yes. Every card, story and review in Radicals is free with a SayMei account. The account saves your progress and keeps your phone and computer in step.

What is a radical?

It's the part a dictionary files a character under, and every character has exactly one. Most also hint at the meaning: 妈 (mom) is filed under 女 (woman), and 清 (clear) under 氵 (water).

Do I have to learn all 214 radicals first?

No. Each part comes in just before the first characters that use it, so you learn it inside real characters. About 40 radicals cover two thirds of the characters on the HSK 1 to 4 lists.

How is it different from Characters?

Characters teaches you to write: watch the strokes, trace them, then write from memory. Radicals teaches you to recognize and remember: the parts, the picture and the story. Write it on any card opens that character in Characters.

Are the stories real history?

Many are, and each story says which it is: Real origin when it follows how the character began, Traditional explanation when it's the long-taught account, and Memory aid when it's a story made up to help you remember.

What if I already know some characters?

Tell us roughly how many you know when you start. Characters you've studied in Characters or Flashcards count as known, and I know this on any card puts it away for a long while.