斤
The 斤 radical
Axe, catty (unit)
Memory hook
A hatchet with a slanted blade for chopping. As a chopping tool it gives 断 (to break off), 斩 (to behead), 斧 (axe); today 斤 is also a half-kilo weight unit.
The 斤 radical (read jīn) means axe, catty (unit). The HSK 3.0 data contains 7 characters and 53 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 斤 radical
Study this radical's 53 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 斤 radical
7 charactersHSK 1· 1 characters
HSK 1新
new
HSK 2· 1 characters
HSK 2斤
jin (Chinese unit of weight, 1 jin = 500 grams)
HSK 3· 1 characters
HSK 3断
to break; to snap
HSK 7-9· 4 characters
HSK 7-9斥
to reproach; to reprimand
斧
axe, hatchet
斩
to chop, to cut, to behead
斯
this person
Vocabulary with the 斤 radical
53 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 斤 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (31/53 words of this radical).
new
New Year
kilogram (kg)
jin (Chinese unit of weight, 1 jin = 500 grams)
news
again; anew
continuously; unceasingly
innovation; to innovate
to judge; to determine
to break; to snap
new type
bride
bridegroom
fresh, new
to be interrupted
to update, to renew
to diagnose
brand-new
to interrupt, to break off
newcomer; new employee
emerging; rising; up-and-coming
to reform, to innovate
Islam
to cut off, sever
to refresh, to renew
to monopolize, monopoly
brand new, completely new
to reject, to exclude, to repel
to infer, to deduce
axe
to chop, to cut, to behead
Why learn vocabulary by the 斤 radical?
The 斤 radical hints at the meaning axe, catty (unit). 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 7 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 53 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.