contributes the sense of striking or handling something with a hand-held tool or weapon · Kangxi radical 79

contributes the sense of striking or handling something with a hand-held tool or weapon

殳 was drawn as a hand gripping a long shaft — a pole weapon or club held ready to strike. In the modern form the lower right part is still the hand 又, and the strokes above it are the worn-down remains of the shaft and its head. Seeing it as "hand + stick" explains why it turns up in actions done by hitting, thrusting or driving: 投 to throw, 设 to set up, 殿 a great hall, 疫 a plague that strikes people down.

殳 at a glance

Meaning
contributes the sense of striking or handling something with a hand-held tool or weapon
Strokes
4
Characters
32
Role
Usually contributes meaning
Kangxi radical
79

Characters with 殳 (21 of 32)

HSK 1 · 1

HSK 3 · 2

HSK 5 · 3

HSK 6 · 6

Beyond HSK · 9

Frequently asked questions

What does the component 殳 mean?

殳 means "contributes the sense of striking or handling something with a hand-held tool or weapon". In the characters that contain it, it usually contributes meaning.

How many Chinese characters contain 殳?

32 characters in this dictionary contain 殳, including ones at HSK 1, HSK 3, HSK 5, HSK 6.

Is 殳 a radical?

Yes — 殳 is Kangxi radical 79, one of the 214 traditional indexing radicals used to organise Chinese dictionaries.

How many strokes does 殳 have?

殳 is written in 4 strokes.