鼠
The 鼠 radical
Rat, mouse
Memory hook
Above, a head baring its front teeth; below, the paws and a long tail: 老鼠 (rat), 鼠标 (computer mouse).
The 鼠 radical (read shǔ) means rat, mouse. The HSK 3.0 data contains 1 characters and 2 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 鼠 radical
Practise the 1 characters carrying the 鼠 radical in correct stroke order: watch, trace, then write from memory.
Characters with the 鼠 radical
1 charactersHSK 5· 1 characters
HSK 5鼠
rat, mouse
Vocabulary with the 鼠 radical
2 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 鼠 radical, ordered by HSK level.
rat, mouse
computer mouse
At least 4 words are needed to practise.
Why learn vocabulary by the 鼠 radical?
The 鼠 radical hints at the meaning rat, mouse. 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 1 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 2 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.