青
mostly marks the sound qīng/qíng/jìng · Kangxi radical 174
mostly marks the sound qīng/qíng/jìng, and where it carries meaning it adds a sense of fresh plant-green color, clarity and purity
青 was written as 生, a young plant sprouting from the ground, sitting on top of 丹, a mineral pigment shown as a dot inside a well or pit — together the fresh green color of new growth. In today's 青 the upper three strokes plus the 土-like base are the worn-down sprout, and the boxed 月-shaped part underneath is the old pigment sign. Almost all the characters here use it for its sound, as in 请, 情 and 精, though the shared idea of something clear and unclouded still shows through in 清 (clear water) and 晴 (clear sky).
青 at a glance
- Meaning
- mostly marks the sound qīng/qíng/jìng
- Strokes
- 8
- Characters
- 26
- Role
- Usually contributes sound
- Kangxi radical
- 174
Characters with 青 (22 of 26)
HSK 1 · 1
HSK 2 · 3
HSK 4 · 2
Beyond HSK · 14
Frequently asked questions
What does the component 青 mean?
青 means "mostly marks the sound qīng/qíng/jìng". In the characters that contain it, it usually contributes sound.
How many Chinese characters contain 青?
26 characters in this dictionary contain 青, including ones at HSK 1, HSK 2, HSK 3, HSK 4.
Is 青 a radical?
Yes — 青 is Kangxi radical 174, one of the 214 traditional indexing radicals used to organise Chinese dictionaries.
How many strokes does 青 have?
青 is written in 8 strokes.