Daily Character

Wed, 23 May 2007 03:37:32 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 舛 chuǎn (chuan3), error

phosphorous

LIN2

commonly found in the compounds: 磷元素 LIN2 YUAN2 SU4, the element phosphorous; 磷磷 LIN2 LIN2, the sound of water rushing through stones; the shimmer of precious stones
radical: 石 SHI2 (stone)
etymology: 石 (stone) is semantic element; 粦 (LIN2, ghostly light) is phonetic
total strokes traditional (simplified): 17 (17)
frequency: uncommon

162

Tue, 15 May 2007 14:05:20 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 舛 chuǎn (chuan3), error

ghostly light; phosphorescence

LIN2

commonly found in the compounds: 燐光 LIN2 GUANG1, phosphorescence; 燐火 LIN2 HUO3, phosphorescence
radical: 火 HUO3 (fire)
etymology: 火 (fire) is semantic element; 粦 (LIN2, ghostly light) is phonetic
total strokes traditional (simplified): 16 (16)
frequency: rare

161

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:15:22 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 舛 chuǎn (chuan3), error

outstanding

jié (jie2)

commonly found in the compounds: 杰出 jié chū (jie2 chu1) outstanding; 杰出人物 jié chū rén wù (jie2 chu1 ren2 wu4) outstanding figure; 杰作 jié zuò (jie2 zuo4) masterpiece
radical: 9 人 (human) (rén)
mnemonic: [Any suggestions?]
total strokes traditional (simplified): 12 (8)
frequency: 1488th most common character

160

N.B. I'm going to try posting characters less frequently (maybe one a week) but more regularly.

cruel

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 04:04:14 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 舛 chuǎn (chuan3), error

cruel; Chieh [evil last ruler of the Xia Dynasty]; perch

jié (jie2)

commonly found in the compound: 桀骜不馴 (桀骜不驯) jié ào bù xún (jie2 ao4 bu4 xun2), obstinate and unruly
radical: 75 木 (tree) (mù)
mnemonic: Two persons back to back 舛 hanging from a tree 木.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 10 (10)
frequency: 4097th most common character

159

N.B. I'm going to try posting characters less frequently (maybe one a week) but more regularly.

error

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:18:01 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 舛 chuǎn (chuan3), error

chuǎn (chuan3)

commonly found in the compound: 舛誤 (舛误) chuǎn wù (chuan3 wu4), error
radical: no. 136
mnemonic: Traditionally, this is said to be a compound ideogram of two persons back to back.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 6 (6)
frequency: 4694th most common character

158

N.B. I'm going to try posting characters less frequently (maybe one a week) but more regularly.

Gentle readers...

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:26:42 GMT

Sorry I have been away from this community for so long!

My "real life" job has been keeping me too busy. I'm trying to ease my way back into my online duties, beginning with my other community, 1000characters, which I am again updating daily. I hope to eventually get back to also updating dailycharacter, but until then, if you need a character fix, allow me to recommend 1000characters. This journal cycles through the 1,000 most common characters in modern Chinese, taken three per day. I began with the 501st character, but when I reach the 1,000th character, I will go to the 1st most common character, and cycle through the whole list.

camel

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:34:41 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

luò (luo4) camel

commonly found in the compounds: 駱駝 luòtuó (luo4 tuo2) camel; 駱馬 luòmǎ (luo4 ma3) llama
radical: no. 187 馬/马 (horse) (mǎ) (ma3)
mnemonic: [Any suggestions?]
total strokes traditional (simplified): 16 (9)
frequency: 2355th most common character
simplified stroke-order animation:

157

Apologies

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 04:21:08 GMT

Sorry I'm being so inconsistent about posting (and answering comments) here and in 1000characters. My job has started up again (I was on summer break), so I don't have as much time as I used to. Don't worry: I'll keep posting, but please forgive me if you post a comment and I don't get to it quickly.

net, web

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 04:18:20 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

luò (luo4) net, web

commonly found in the compounds: 聯絡 liánluò (lian2 luo4) contact; 網絡 wǎngluò (wang3 luo4) net; internet
radical: no. 120 糸 (silk) (mì) (mi4)
mnemonic: Each 各 strand of silk 糸 is woven with another to form a web 洛.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 12 (9)
frequency: 1852nd most common character
simplified stroke-order animation:

156

to drop

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 04:08:49 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

luò (luo4) to drop

commonly found in the compounds: 落後 luòhòu (luo4 hou4) fall behind; 落下 luòxià (luo4 xia4) to drop
radical: no. 140 艸 (grass) (cǎo) (cao3)
mnemonic: Imagine a drop of water 水 falling off 落 each 各 blade of grass 艸.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 13 (12)
frequency: 391st most common character
stroke-order animation:

155

Luo

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 04:05:17 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

luò (luo4) [proper name or phonetic element]

commonly found in the compounds: 洛杉磯 luòshānjī (luo4 shan1 ji1) Los Angeles; 日洛 rìluò (ri4 luo4) sunset
radical: no. 85 水 (water) (shuǐ) (shui3)
mnemonic: [This is mostly a phonetic and proper name, so I'd just memorize it by rote.]
total strokes traditional (simplified): 9 (9)
frequency: [My sources disagree on how common this character is. According to one source it is one of the 1,000 most common. According to the other it is not among the 3,000 most common. I think it may depend on whether you count proper names in the total.]
stroke-order animation:

154

strategy; to omit

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 05:51:03 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

lüè (lüe4) strategy; to omit

commonly found in the compounds: 侵略 qīn lüè (qin1 lüe4) to invade; 忽略 hū lüè (hu1 lüe4) to overlook
radical: no. 102 田 (field) (tián) (tian2)
mnemonic: Each 各 field 田 will be invaded 略.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 11 (11)
frequency: 888th most common character
stroke-order animation:

153

dew; to expose

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 04:06:13 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

lù (lu4) dew; to expose

commonly found in the compounds: 暴露 pùlù (pu4 lu4) to expose; 露水 lùshuǐ (lu4 shui3) dew
radical: no. 173 雨 (rain) (yǔ) (yu3)
mnemonic: Imagine the dew exposed 露 because of the rain 雨 on the road 路.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 21 (21)
frequency: 915th most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
stroke-order animation:

152

road

Thu, 07 Sep 2006 04:05:26 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

lù (lu4) road

commonly found in the compounds: 道路 dàolù (dao4 lu4) road; 路徑 lùjìng (lu4 jing4) path; 路程 lùchéng (lu4 cheng2) distance travelled
radical: no. 157. 足 (foot) (zú) (zu2)
mnemonic: Imagine each 各 foot 足 walking down the road 路.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 13 (13)
frequency: 195th most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
stroke-order animation:

151

forehead

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 04:27:44 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

é (e2) forehead

commonly found in the compounds: 額頭 étóu (e2 tou2) forehead; 額外 éwài (e2 wai4) extra, additional
radical: no. 181 頁/页 (face) (yè) (ye4)
mnemonic: [Any suggestions?]
total strokes traditional (simplified): 18 (15)
frequency: 919th most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
stroke-order animation:

150

guest

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 04:23:37 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

kè (ke4) guest

commonly found in the compounds: 客氣 kèqì (ke4 qi4) polite; 客觀 kèguān (ke4 guan1) objective; 客人 kèrén (ke4 ren2) guest
radical: no. 40 宀 (roof) (mián) (mian2)
mnemonic: [Any suggestions?]
total strokes traditional (simplified): 9 (9)
frequency: 402nd most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
stroke-order animation:

149

bones

Sat, 02 Sep 2006 04:17:52 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

gé (ge2) bones

commonly found in the compounds: 骨骼 gǔgé (gu3 ge2) skeleton
radical: no. 188 骨 (bone) (gǔ) (gu3)
mnemonic: The bones 骨 of each 各 part of the body make up the skeleton 骼.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 16 (16)
frequency: 3459th most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
no stroke-order animation available

148

to lay aside

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 04:04:41 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

gē (ge1) to lay aside

commonly found in the compounds: 擱置 gēzhì (ge1 zhi4) to put aside, to shelve; 耽擱 dāngē (dan1 ge1) to delay; 擱下 gēxià (ge1 xia4) to put aside, to lay down
radical: no. 64 手 (hand) (shǒu) (shou3)
mnemonic: The hand 手 beside the chamber 閣 stops 擱 the door.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 17 (12)
frequency: 2668th most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
stroke-order animation:

147

chamber

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:02:50 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

gé (ge2) chamber

commonly found in the compounds: 閣下 géxià (ge2 xia4) Your Excellency; 閣樓 gélóu (ge2 lou2) attic; 內閣 nèigé (nei4 ge2) (government) cabinet; 閣員 géyuán (ge2 yuan2) cabinet member
radical: no. 169 門/门 (gate) (mén) (men2)
mnemonic: Each 各 gate 門 opens onto a chamber 閣.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 14 (9)
frequency: 1799th most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
stroke-order animation:

146

standard

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 06:03:34 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

gé (ge2) standard

commonly found in the compounds: 格式 géshì (ge2 shi4) format; 格言 géyán (ge2 yan2) aphorism; 表格 biǎogé (biao3 ge2) form, table
radical: no. 75 木 (tree) (mù) (mu4)
mnemonic: Imagine a wooden 木 tool which is a standard 格 for each 各 thing.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 10 (10)
frequency: 409th most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
stroke-order animation:

145

arm

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 05:08:58 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

gē (ge1) arm

commonly found in the compound: 胳臂 gēbèi (ge1 bei4) arm; 胳肢窩 gēzhīwō (ge1 zhi1 wo1) armpit
radical: no. 130. 肉 (meat) (ròu) (rou4)
mnemonic: There is flesh 肉 in each 各 arm 胳.
total strokes traditional (simplified): 10 (10)
frequency: 2943rd most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
stroke-order animation:

144

New Theme!

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 04:00:11 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 各 gè (ge4)

gè (ge4) each

commonly found in the compound: 各種 gèzhǒng (ge4 zhong3) "each kind"; 各位 gèwèi (ge4 wei4) "each person"; 各地 gèdì (ge4 di4) "each place"; 各式各樣 gèshìgèyàng (ge4shi4ge4yang4) "each kind"
radical: no. 30 口 (mouth) (kǒu) (kou3)
mnemonic: [This character is pretty basic, so I'd just memorize it.]
total strokes traditional (simplified): 6 (6)
frequency: 452nd most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
stroke-order animation:

143

QUIZ!

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 04:42:58 GMT

次序 cìxù (ci4 xu4) order, sequence

瓷器 cíqì (ci2 qi4) porcelain ware

資本 zīběn (zi1 ben3) capital

姿態 zītài (zi1 tai4) posture, bearing

諮詢 zīxún (zi1 xun2) to inquire

羨慕 xiànmù (xian4 mu4) to admire, to envy

強盜 qiángdào (qiang2 dao4) robber

thief

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:48:49 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 次 ci (ci4)

dào (dao4) thief

commonly found in the compound: 盜匪 dàofěi (dao4 fei3) robber; 盜竊 dàoqiè (dao4 qie4) steal; theft; 強盜 qiángdào (qiang2 dao4) robber; 盜印 dàoyìn (dao4 yin4) to pirate (of the bootleg CD kind); 海盜 hǎidào (hai3 dao4) pirate (of the Blackbeard kind)
radical: no. 108 皿 (dish) (mǐn) (min3)
mnemonic: Someone steals 盜 from the dish 皿 because his mouth waters 水 when he is lacking 欠. [N.B.: The traditional form has three-dots-water on the upper left, not ice, like in 次.]
total strokes traditional (simplified): 12 (11)
frequency: 1756th most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
hear Cantonese dialect character pronunciation: dou6
hear Taiwanese dialect pronunciation: to7
stroke-order animation:

142

to admire, to envy

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 13:03:03 GMT

Current Theme: Characters with the element 次 ci (ci4)

xiàn (xian4) to admire, to envy

commonly found in the compound: 羨慕 xiànmù (xian4 mu4) to admire, to envy; 欣羨 xīnxiàn (xin1 xian4) to admire, to envy
radical: no. 123 羊 (sheep) (yáng) (yang2)
mnemonic: One feels envy 羨 as one's mouth waters 水 when one is lacking 欠 and one sees a cooked sheep 羊. [N.B.: The traditional form has three-dots-water on the lower left, not ice, like in 次.]
total strokes traditional (simplified): 13 (12)
frequency: 2030th most common character
hear Mandarin dialect character pronunciation
hear Cantonese dialect character pronunciation: zi1
hear Taiwanese dialect pronunciation: chu1
no stroke-order animation available

141