贝
The 贝 radical
Shell, money
Variants: 貝
Memory hook
Cowrie shells once used as money
The 贝 radical (read bèi) means shell, money. The HSK 3.0 data contains 45 characters and 227 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 贝 radical
Study this radical's 227 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 贝 radical
45 charactersThe free plan shows 9 characters per HSK level (37/45 characters of this radical).
HSK 1· 1 characters
HSK 1贵
expensive
HSK 3· 6 characters
HSK 3负
to carry, to bear (on the back)
责
responsibility, duty
费
fee; charge
资
assets, capital
赛
competition, match, tournament
赢
to win
HSK 4· 9 characters
HSK 4贝
shell, cowrie (used as currency in ancient times)
财
wealth, money
败
to defeat
货
goods, merchandise
质
quality
购
to shop, to buy supplies
贴
to paste, to stick, to attach
赏
to reward, to grant as a reward
赞
to praise, to commend
HSK 5· 5 characters
HSK 5贷
to lend
贸
trade (used in compound words like 'commerce', 'trade')
贺
to congratulate, celebrate
赔
to compensate, to indemnify
赠
to give (as a gift)
HSK 6· 7 characters
HSK 6贡
to contribute, to offer up
账
account, accounts, ledger
贫
poor; destitute
贯
to string, to string together
赌
to gamble, to bet
赖
to rely on, to depend on (others)
赚
to earn, to make (money)
HSK 7-9· 9 characters
HSK 7-9贞
chastity, loyal and faithful
贤
worthy and virtuous
贩
to trade; to peddle
贪
greedy
贬
to lower; to reduce (e.g., to demote, to discount)
贮
to store, to stockpile
贱
lowly, base, contemptible
贼
thief
贾
surname (a common Chinese surname)
Vocabulary with the 贝 radical
227 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 贝 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (46/227 words of this radical).
expensive
to pay a fee; to pay (a bill)
final (of a competition)
tuition; tuition fees
wages; salary
to charge a fee; to collect payment
match; competition; contest
to waste; to squander; wasteful
consumption; spending
to be in charge of; to be responsible for
free (of charge)
quality, character
salesperson, shop assistant
to fail
treasure; darling
precious, valuable
nature, essence
to defeat
to invest; investment
grand prix, major competition
to criticize, to condemn
to acquire, to buy out
to admire
consumer
material
precious, valuable
congratulations
competition, contest
consistent; all along
high-quality, premium
to rely on; to depend on
semifinal
to participate in a competition, to enter a contest
foreign capital
major competition, grand contest
tip; gratuity
service fee, handling fee
hostage
to pay a fee, to pay
physical constitution, state of health
considerate, attentive to others
shelf life; expiration date
credit
to trust, to place one's trust in
expenses paid by an institution or the state
to contribute capital, to invest funds
Why learn vocabulary by the 贝 radical?
The 贝 radical hints at the meaning shell, money. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 45 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 227 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.