黑
The 黑 radical
Black
Memory hook
A face blackened by the soot of the fire 灬 burning underneath: 黑色 (black), 墨 (ink), 默 (silent).
The 黑 radical (read hēi) means black. The HSK 3.0 data contains 3 characters and 19 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 黑 radical
Study this radical's 19 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 黑 radical
3 charactersHSK 2· 1 characters
HSK 2黑
black
HSK 4· 1 characters
HSK 4默
silent
HSK 6· 1 characters
HSK 6墨
ink (for writing or printing)
Vocabulary with the 黑 radical
19 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 黑 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (18/19 words of this radical).
black
blackboard
black; the color black
silent, to fall silent
dark, gloomy
silent, quiet
humorous
dark night, night
ink
to change or influence naturally and gradually
hacker
dark, wicked (usually referring to a dishonest, conscienceless person or act)
a hidden hand, a dark force (someone secretly causing harm)
right and wrong (truth and falsehood)
black horse
ink (the black substance used for writing and painting)
tacit understanding, rapport
to read silently, to read in one's head without making a sound
Why learn vocabulary by the 黑 radical?
The 黑 radical hints at the meaning black. 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 3 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 19 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.