匕
The 匕 radical
Spoon, dagger
Memory hook
A spoon with a curved handle. It also pictures a person turned around, so 北 (north) is two people back to back and 化 is a person transforming.
The 匕 radical (read bǐ) means spoon, dagger. The HSK 3.0 data contains 3 characters and 43 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 匕 radical
Study this radical's 43 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 匕 radical
3 charactersHSK 1· 1 characters
HSK 1北
north
HSK 3· 1 characters
HSK 3化
to transform; to change; -ize
HSK 7-9· 1 characters
HSK 7-9匙
spoon
Vocabulary with the 匕 radical
43 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 匕 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (29/43 words of this radical).
north
Beijing
north, northern side
the northeast
the north
northwest
to transform; to change; -ize
north; northern part
change
culture
to digest
fossil
the North Pole, the Arctic region
north and south
to transform, to convert
evolution
to resolve, to defuse
to strengthen, to reinforce
to deepen, to strengthen
to make green, to plant greenery
carbon dioxide
to optimize
to become rigid, to lose flexibility
to purify, to clean
differentiation, polarization
to put on makeup
chemical fiber
chemical fertilizer
incarnation, embodiment
Why learn vocabulary by the 匕 radical?
The 匕 radical hints at the meaning spoon, dagger. 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 43 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.