A list of kanji with common components that aren't Wanikani radicals

Longish explanation on why I did this

I may have reached level 60, but I embarrassingly still confuse some kanji that should be basic. Out of these, 履 from level 19 has been the most annoying. I learned it as “boots” and all went well, until at level 26 I learned 復 for restore. After that, every time I saw 履 I thought “flag, restore?” and came up blank. Same with 喫, “consume” - I knew it perfectly until I learned 契 for pledge. After that, “mouth+pledge” failed to trigger any connections in my brain, and 喫 suddenly became a mystery to me.

Wanikani’s radical system and the mental paths it helps build have been amazing for the most part, but there are cases like these when a newly learned kanji will then be recognizable within a previously learned one, destroying whatever mnemonics were in place. So I decided to go through the whole of Wanikani and try and spot all the kanji that are related to each other but Wanikani fails to acknowledge it. Below is a super long list of kanji that could be used as radicals, and the kanji that might be derived from them (I also have an equally long list of similar kanji from which a common non-kanji radical could be extracted, but I’ll leave those for another day, if I ever find the energy to do something about them).

TLDL: Many Wanikani kanji are contained within other kanji. In the following list I attempt to treat them as radicals.

This list will possibly be useful to no one but myself, but since I compiled it I thought I might as well upload it in case it helps someone. :slight_smile:

The post is now a wiki so that everyone who would like to can contribute to the list

Note that the order within the lists is completely random.

Edit: I added non-WK kanji as radicals in a separate list, and did some tidying up - now the lists are under cuts to save space.

first kanji serves as radical (in parentheses if not in WK)
kanji - meaning, level, main reading (radicals)

List of Wanikani kanji that can serve as radicals

復 - restore, 26, ふく
履 - boots, 19, り (restore+flag)
覆 - capsize, 49, ふく (restore+helicopter)

知 - know, 6, ち
痴 - stupid, 54, ち (sick+know)
智 - wisdom, 56, ち (know+sun)

官 - government, 17, かん
館 - public building, 13, かん (eat+government)
管 - pipe, 24, かん (bamboo+government)
菅 - sedge, 58, すが (flowers+government)

是 - absolutely, 17, ぜ
題 - topic, 13, だい (absolutely+geoduck)
提 - present, 22, てい (fingers+absolutely)
堤 - embankment, 50, てい (dirt+absolutely)

相 - mutual, 9, そう
想 - concept, 13, そう (mutual+heart)
箱 - box, 16, はこ (bamboo+mutual)
霜 - frost, 48, しも (rain+mutual)

列 - row, 15, れつ
例 - example, 14, れい (leader+row)
烈 - violent, 29, れつ (row+boil)
裂 - split, 43, れつ (row+clothes)

利 - profit, 11, り
梨 - pear, 44, なし (profit+tree)
莉 - jasmine, 53, り (profit+flower)
痢 - diarrhea, 60, り (sick+profit)

童 - juvenile, 12, どう
鐘 - bell, 45, しょう (gold+juvenile)
瞳 - pupil, 46, どう (eye+juvenile)
憧 - long for, 59, あこが (soul+juvenile)

折 - fold, 14, せつ
哲 - philosophy, 42, てつ (fold+mouth)
誓 - vow, 49, せい (fold+say)
逝 - die, 60, せい (fold+scooter)

軍 - army, 15, ぐん
運 - carry, 10, うん (army+scooter)
揮 - brandish, 34, き (army+fingers)
輝 - radiance, 48, き (army+sunlight)

麻 - hemp, 48, ま
磨 - polish, 45, みが (devil hat+stone)
摩 - chafe, 43, ま (devil hat+hand)
魔 - devil, 46, ま (devil hat+demon)

False children

歴 - continuation, 19, れき
暦 - calendar, 45, れき

屈 - yield, 27, くつ
掘 - dig, 42, くつ (fingers+yield)
堀 - ditch, 40, ほり (dirt+yield)

曹 - official, 59, そう
遭 - encounter, 52, そう (official+scooter)
槽 - tank, 57, そう (official+tree)

既 - previously, 31, き
慨 - sigh, 58, がい (soul+previously)
概 - approximation, 49, がい (tree+previously)

某 - certain, 60, ぼう
謀 - conspire, 49, ぼう (certain+say)
媒 - mediator, 58, ばい (certain+woman)

壮 - robust, 50, そう
荘 - villa, 54, そう (robust+flowers)
装 - attire, 33, そう (robust+clothes)

叔 - uncle, 59, お
淑 - graceful, 58, しゅく (uncle+tsunami)
寂 - lonely, 56, じゃく (uncle+roof)

票 - ballot, 25, ひょう
標 - signpost, 13, ひょう (tree+ballot)
漂 - drigt, 50, ひょう (tsunami+ballot)

建 - build, 15, けん
健 - healthy, 27, けん (leader+build)
鍵 - key, 46, かぎ (gold+build)

廷 - courts, 50, てい
庭 - garden, 12, てい (canopy+courts)
艇 - rowboat, 53, てい (boat+courts)

敬 - respect, 33, けい
警 - warn, 17, けい (respect+say)
驚 - surprised, 31, きょう (respect+horse)

虚 - void, 17, きょ
嘘 - lie, 41, うそ (void+mouth)
戯 - play, 58, ぎ (void+drunkard)

若 - young, 19, わか
諾 - agreement, 36, だく (say+young)
匿 - hide, 60, とく (cage+young)

因 - cause, 17, いん
恩 - kindness, 32, おん (cause+heart)
姻 - marry, 59, いん (woman+cause)

秀 - excel, 23, しゅう
誘 - invite, 27, ゆう (say+excel)
透 - transparent, 40, とう (scooter+excel)

奉 - dedicate, 55, ほう
俸 - salary, 57, ほう (leader+dedicate)
棒 - pole, 31, ぼう (tree+dedicate)

動 - move, 12, どう
働 - work, 11, どう (leader+move)
勲 - merit, 54, くん (move+boil)

定 - determine, 9, てい
淀 - eddy, 50, よど (tsunami+determine)
錠 - lock, 58, じょう (gold+determine)

般 - generally, 36, はん
盤 - tray, 38, ばん (generally+plate)
搬 - transport, 50, はん (fingers+generally)

則 - rule, 23, そく
側 - side, 17, がわ (leader+rule)
測 - measure, 35, そく (tsunami+rule)

斬 - slice, 46, ざん
暫 - temporarily, 42, ざん (slice+sun)
漸 - gradually, 60, ようや (tsunami+slice)

連 - take along, 19, れん
蓮 - lotus, 51, れん (take along+flowers)
漣 - ripples, 60, れん (tsunami+take along)

肖 - resemblance, 58, しょう
削 - whittle down, 37, さく (resemblance+knife)
消 - extinguish, 12, しょう (tsunami+resemblance)

布 - cloth, 19, ふ
希 - wish, 14, き (treasure+cloth)
怖 - scary, 29, ふ (soul+cloth)

帝 - sovereign, 46, てい
締 - tighten, 27, てい (thread+sovereign)
諦 - give up, 22, てい (say+sovereign)

旨 - point, 43, し
脂 - fat, 51, し (moon+point)
指 - finger, 11, し (fingers+point)

奴 - dude, 34, ど
努 - toil, 11, ど (dude+power)
怒 - angry, 27, ど (dude+heart)

害 - damage, 20, がい
割 - divide, 23, わり (damage+knife)
轄 - control, 56, かつ (car+damage)

異 - differ, 33, い
翼 - wing, 44, よく (differ+feathers)
戴 - receive, 53, たい (differ+cross+drunkard)

苗 - seedling, 51, みょう
猫 - cat, 15, ねこ (animal+seedling)
描 - draw, 38, びょう (fingers+seedling)

吾 - I, 46, わが
語 - language, 10, ご (say+I)
悟 - comprehension, 49, ご (soul+I)

庶 - all, 54, しょ
遮 - intercept, 57, しゃ (scooter+all)

帥 - commander, 53, すい
師 - teacher, 23, し (commander+ground)

憂 - grief, 55, ゆう
優 - superior, 23, ゆう (leader+grief)

英 - England, 15, えい
瑛 - crystal, 55, えい (king+England)

解 - untie, 21, かい
蟹 - crab, 50, かに (crab+insect)

忍 - endure, 44, にん
認 - recognize, 21, にん (say+endure)

量 - quantity, 24, りょう
糧 - provisions, 52, りょう (rice+quantity)

景 - scene, 25, けい
影 - shadow, 25, えい (scene+hair)

替 - replace, 25, か
潜 - conceal, 41, せん (tsunami+replace)

寿 - lifespan, 35, じゅ
鋳 - cast, 59, ちゅう (gold+lifespan)

段 - steps, 27, だん
鍛 - forge, 46, たん (gold+steps)

需 - demand, 38, じゅ
濡 - wet, 30, ぬ (tsunami+demand)

孫 - grandchild, 31, そん
遜 - humble, 41, そん (scooter+grandchild)

追 - follow, 11, お
遣 - dispatch, 37, けん (follow+insect)

幾 - how many, 31, いく
機 - machine, 20, き (tree+how many)

卓 - table, 45, たく
悼 - grieve, 55, とう (soul+table)

禁 - prohibit, 18, きん
襟 - collar, 51, えり (spirit+prohibit)

尉 - military officer, 56, い
慰 - consolation, 43, い (military officer+heart)

署 - government office, 17, しょ
曙 - dawn, 53, あけぼの (sun+government office)

延 - prolong, 30, えん
誕 - birth, 22, たん (say+prolong)

射 - shoot, 34, しゃ
謝 - apologize, 13, しゃ (say+shoot)

宿 - lodge, 13, しゅく
縮 - shrink, 34, しゅく (thread+lodge)

却 - contrary, 38, きゃく
脚 - leg, 35, きゃく (moon+contrary)

府 - government, 16, ふ
腐 - rot, 34, ふ (government+meat)

察 - guess, 17, さつ
擦 - grate, 43, さつ (fingers+guess)

到 - arrival, 42, とう
倒 - overthrow, 20, とう (leader+arrival)

参 - participate, 14, さん
惨 - disaster, 53, さん (soul+participate)

戻 - return, 37, もど
涙 - teardrop, 44, るい (tsunami+return)

式 - ritual, 15, しき
試 - try, 9, し (say+ritual)

卑 - lowly, 59, ひ
碑 - tombstone, 56, ひ (stone+lowly)

焦 - char, 42, しょう
礁 - reef, 59, しょう (stone+char)

路 - road, 10, ろ
露 - expose, 43, ろ (rain+road)

頼 - trust, 36, らい
瀬 - rapids, 41, せ (tsunami+trust)

登 - climb, 12, とう
澄 - lucidity, 45, す (tsunami+climb)

盾 - shield, 48, じゅん
循 - circulation, 55, じゅん (loiter+shield)

要 - need, 9, よう
腰 - waist, 24, こし (moon+need)

隊 - squad, 28, たい
墜 - crash, 47, つい (squad+dirt)

唐 - China, 50, とう
糖 - sugar, 33, とう (rice+China)

厄 - unlucky, 35, やく
危 - dangerous, 16, き (prison+unlucky)

皆 - all, 13, みな
階 - floor, 12, かい (building+all)

昆 - insect, 19, こん
混 - mix, 19, こん (tsunami+insect)

処 - deal with, 28, しょ
拠 - based on, 41, きょ (fingers+deal with)

凡 - mediocre, 56, ぼん
帆 - sail, 58, はん (towel+mediocre)

即 - instant, 43, そく
節 - season, 19, せつ (bamboo+instant)

以 - from, 7, い
似 - resemble, 31, に (leader+from)

刑 - punish, 37, けい
型 - model, 24, けい (dirt+punish)

乗 - ride, 9, の
剰 - surplus, 53, じょう (ride+knife)

貫 - pierce, 52, かん
慣 - accustomed, 25, かん (soul+pierce)

雲 - cloud, 8, くも
曇 - cloudy, 45, くも (sun+cloud)

表 - express, 9, ひょう
俵 - sack, 46, ひょう (leader+express)

丘 - hill, 44, きゅう
岳 - peak, 45, がく (hill+mountain)
兵 - soldier, 17, へい (hill+fins/soldier)
浜 - beach, 28, はま (tsunami+soldier)

貞 - chastity, 51, てい
偵 - spy, 31, てい (leader+chastity)

迷 - astray, 27, めい
謎 - riddle, 44, なぞ (say+astray)

卸 - wholesale, 54, おろし
御 - honorable, 39, ご (loiter+wholesale)

任 - duty, 21, にん
賃 - rent, 33, ちん (duty+shellfish)

最 - most, 10, さい
撮 - photograph, 30, さつ (fingers+most)

考 - think, 5, こう
拷 - torture, 60, ごう (fingers+think)

敢 - daring, 57, かん
厳 - strict, 32, げん (grass+cliff+daring)

務 - task, 21, む
霧 - fog, 47, きり (rain+task)

徴 - indication, 26, ちょう
懲 - chastise, 43, ちょう (indication+heart)

敏 - alert, 40, びん
繁 - overgrown, 40, はん (thread+alert)

完 - perfect, 14, かん
院 - institution, 10, いん (building+perfect)

固 - hard, 14, こ
個 - individual, 20, こ (leader+hard)

胡 - barbarian, 53, こ
湖 - lake, 35, こ (tsunami+barbarian)

居 - alive, 25, きょ
据 - install, 53, す (fingers+alive)

契 - pledge, 37, けい
喫 - consume, 18, きつ (mouth+pledge)

志 - intention, 32, し
誌 - magazine, 33, し (say+intention)

庄 - manor, 46, しょう
粧 - cosmetics, 47, しょう (rice+manor)

泉 - spring, 12, せん
線 - line, 10, せん (thread+spring)

留 - detain, 16, る
瑠 - Lapis Lazuli, 57, る (king+detain)

切 - cut, 3, せつ
窃 - steal, 58, せつ (hole+cut)

度 - degrees, 9, ど
渡 - transit, 25, わた (tsunami+degrees)

畜 - livestock, 48, ちく
蓄 - amass, 48, ちく (flowers+livestock)

属 - belong, 25, ぞく
嘱 - request, 58, しょく (mouth+belong)

尼 - nun, 49, に
泥 - mud, 31, でい (tsunami+nun)

灰 - ash, 33, はい
炭 - charcoal, 41, たん (mountain+ash)

冒 - dare, 16, ぼう
帽 - hat, 47, ぼう (towel+dare)

多 - many, 5, た
移 - shift, 28, い (grain+many)

宛 - address, 39, あて
腕 - arm, 24, うで (moon+address)

就 - settle in, 27, しゅう
蹴 - kick, 49, け (foot+settle in)

普 - normal, 31, ふ
譜 - genealogy, 58, ふ (say+normal)

旬 - in season, 37, しゅん
殉 - martyr, 60, じゅん (yakuza+in season)

加 - add, 19, か
賀 - congratulations, 22, が (add+shellfish)
架 - shelf, 46, か (add+tree)

尊 - revered, 33, そん
噂 - rumor, 33, うわさ (mouth+~revered)

左 - left, 2, さ
佐 - help, 47, さ (leader+left)

育 - nurture, 11, いく
徹 - penetrate, 41, てつ (loiter+nurture+winter)
撤 - withdrawal, 41, てつ (fingers+nurture+winter)

匂 - scent, 30, にお
渇 - thirst, 30, かわ (tsunami+sun+scent)
掲 - display, 37, けい (fingers+sun+scent)
喝 - scold, 57, かつ (mouth+sun+scent)

隻 - ship counter, 51, せき
護 - defend, 23, ご (say+flowers+ship counter)
獲 - seize, 40, かく (animal+flowers+ship counter)
穫 - harvest, 48, かく (grain+flowers+ship counter)

炎 - flame, 35, えん
談 - discuss, 9, だん (say+flame)
淡 - faint, 49, たん (tsunami+flame)

死 - death, 6, し
葬 - burial, 37, そう (flower+death+twenty)

垂 - dangle, 33, すい
睡 - drowsy, 27, すい (eye+dangle)
郵 - mail, 26, ゆう (dangle+building)

従 - obey, 26, じゅう
縦 - vertical, 34, たて (thread+obey)

List of non-Wanikani kanji that can serve as radicals

Note that most of these kanji seem very rare, or not used at all. They were still in Jisho though, and in several cases make a lot of sense.

(圭 - square jewel, N1, ケイ)
掛 - hang, 25, か (fingers+square jewel+toe)
街 - street, 29, がい (square jewel+go)
鮭 - salmon, 36, さけ (fish+square jewel)
封 - seal, 43, ふう (square jewel+measurement)
涯 - horizon, 50, がい (tsunami+cliff+square jewel)
佳 - excellent, 55, か (leader+square jewel)
崖 - cliff, 47, がい (mountain+cliff+square jewel)

(此 - this, newspaper, これ)
紫 - purple, 49, し (this+thread)
柴 - brushwood, 56, しば (this+tree)
雌 - female, 59, めす (this+turkey)

(喬 - feeling high, N1, たか)
橋 - bridge, 13, はし (tree+feeling high)
矯 - correct, 60, きょう (arrow+feeling high)

(采 - dice, サイ, N1)
採 - gather, 32, さい (fingers+dice)
彩 - coloring, 48, さい (dice+hair)

(卆 - private Ryan, -, ソツ)
粋 - stylish, 34, すい (rice+private)
酔 - drunk, 35, すい (alcohol+private)
枠 - frame, 39, わく (tree+private)
砕 - smash, 47, さい (stone+private)

(亘 - span, N1, コウ)
垣 - 43, hedge, かき (dirt+span)
恒 - 52, constant, こう (soul+span)

(孰 - eventually, -, いず.れ ジュク)
熟 - ripen, 33, じゅく (eventually+boil)
塾 - cram school, 45, じゅく (eventually+dirt)

(竟- finally, -, キョウ)
鏡 - mirror, 13, かがみ (gold+finally)
境 - boundary, 24, きょう (dirt+finally)

(帛 - white robe, -, きぬ ハク)
綿 - cotton, 46, めん (thread+white robe)
錦 - brocade, 53, にしき (gold+white robe)

(帚 - cleansing broom, -, ソウ)
帰 - return, 15, かえ (knife+cleansing broom)
婦 - wife, 28, ふ (woman+cleansing broom)
掃 - sweep, 31, そう (fingers+cleansing broom)

(賁 - respectful decoration, -, フン)
墳 - tomb, 50, ふん (dirt+respectful decoration)
噴 - erupt, 52, ふん (mouth+respectful decoration)
憤 - resent, 58, ふん (soul+respectful decoration)

(奐 - lustrous, -, カン)
換 - exchange, 36, かん (fingers+lustrous)
喚 - scream, 51, かん (mouth+lustrous)

(侖 - careful thinking, -, リン)
輪 - wheel, 13, りん (car+careful thinking)
倫 - ethics, 52, りん (leader+careful thinking)
論 - theory, 20, ろん (say+careful thinking)

(耑 - specialized, -, タン セン)
端 - edge, 27, たん (stand+specialized)
瑞 - congratulations, 58, みず (king+specialized)

(尓 - you, -, ジ 二)
称 - title, 38, しょう (grain+you)
弥 - increasing, 55, や (bow+you)

(朿 - thorn, -, シ とげ)
策 - plan, 22, さく (bamboo+thorn)
刺 - stab, 26, し (thorn+knife)

(茲 - here, -, シ ジ)
磁 - magnet, 34, じ (stone+here)
滋 - nourishing, 43, じ (tsunami+here)
慈 - mercy, 51, じ (here+heart)

(咼 - dishonest, -, カイ)
骨 - bone, 14, コツ (dishonest+moon)
過 - surpass, 22, か (scooter+dishonest)
鍋 - pot, 35, なべ (gold+dishonest)
禍 - evil, 59, か (spirit+dishonest)
渦 - whirlpool, 51, か (tsunami+dishonest)

(隶 - underling, Chinese, タイ) Simplified form of 隸(奴隸)
緑 - green, 13, みどり (thread+underling)
逮 - apprehend, 25, たい (scooter+underling)
康 - ease, 27, こう (canopy+underling)
録 - record, 28, ろく (gold+underling)

(孚 - sincere / bring up, -, フ) See Goo.
乳 - milk, 23, にゅう (sincere+umbrella)
浮 - float, 30, う (tsunami+sincere)

(埶 - powerful, -, ゲイ)
熱 - heat, 13, ねつ (powerful+boil)
勢 - force, 22, せい (powerful+power)

(戠 - yellow clay / sword, -, ショク シ zhí)
識 - discerning, 17, しき (say+yellow clay)
職 - employment, 23, しょく (ear+yellow clay)
織 - weave, 27, しき (thread+yellow clay)

(曼 - vast, -, マン)
漫 - manga, 50, まん (tsunami+vast)
慢 - ridicule, 52, まん (soul+vast)

(桼 - dried lacquer, -, うるし)
漆 - lacquer, 59, しつ (tsunami+dried lacquer)
膝 - knee, 38, ひざ (moon+dried lacquer)

(亢 - high spirits, コウ)
航 - navigation, 29, こう (boat+high spirits)
抗 - confront, 37, こう (fingers+high spirits)
坑 - pit, 60, こう (dirt+high spirits)

List of Wanikani kanji with obvious common components that don't seem to be kanji (images)

Triple power (Triple power)

協 - cooperation, 14, きょう (cross+Triple power)
脇 - armpit, 48, わき (moon+Triple power)

Sun over spikes (Sun over spikes)

顕 - appear, 54, けん (Sun over spikes+geoduck)
湿 - damp, 45, しつ (tsunami+Sun over spikes)

Standing tree (Standing tree)

新 - new, 9, しん (Standing tree+axe)
親 - parent, 10, しん (Standing tree+see)

Windblown hat (Windblown hat)

The wind is so strong that it blows your hair under that.

診 - diagnose, 29, しん (say+Windblown hat)
珍 - rare, 43, ちん (king+Windblown hat)

Horns on the heaven (Horns on the heaven)

送 - send, 9, そう (scooter+Horns on the heaven)
関 - related, 16, かん (gate+Horns on the heaven)
咲 - blossom, 48, さ (mouth+Horns on the heaven)

pi-tree (Pi tree)

深 - deep, 12, しん (tsunami+pi-tree)
探 - look for, 31, たん (fingers+pi-tree)

samurai-jackhammer (Samurai jackhammer)

隷 - slave, 34, れい (samurai-jackhammer+brush+water)
款 - article, 60, かん (samurai-jackhammer+lack)

Flow (Flow)

It sucks to know that all rivers flows, but the way to know that, is that there are trashes flowing on it.

流 - stream, 12, りゅう (tsunami+Flow)
硫 - sulfur, 58, りゅう (stone+Flow)

world-tree (World tree)

葉 - leaf, 10, は (flowers+world-tree)
蝶 - butterfly, 56, ちょう (insect+world-tree)
喋 - chat, 35, しゃべ (mouth+world-tree)

Outside Wanikani

諜 - spy, newspaper, チョウ (say+world-tree)

Horned lantern (Horned lantern)

併 - join, 38, へい (leader+Horned lantern)
瓶 - bottle, 51, びん (Horned lantern+ten thousand+drop+ground)
餅 - mochi, 42, もち (eat+Horned lantern)

Wolverine on the stooll (Wolverine on the stool)

Where’s wolverine? He is on the stool’s forehead!

侵 - invade, 41, しん (leader+Wolverine on the stool)
寝 - lie down, 22, ね (roof+icicle+Wolverine on the stool)
浸 - immersed, 49, しん (tsunami+Wolverine on the stool)

Rice on the lion (Rice on the lion)

断 - cut off, 21, だん (Rice on the lion+axe)
継 - inherit, 36, けい (Rice on the lion-rice)

low-ground (Low ground)

低 - low, 11, てい (leader+low-ground)
底 - bottom, 17, そこ (canopy+low-ground)
邸 - residence, 51, てい (low-ground+building)
抵 - resist, 37, てい (fingers+low-ground)

Narrow RHS (Narrow RHS)

RHS - right hand side. I might also use LHS (left hand side) later.

狭 - narrow, 24, せま (animal+Narrow RHS)
挟 - between, 51, はさ (fingers+Narrow RHS)
峡 - ravine, 57, きょう (mountain+Narrow RHS)

Stamping stool (Stamping stool)

服 - clothes, 9, ふく (moon+Stamping stool)
報 - news, 18, ほう (happiness+Stamping stool)

Broken center (Broken center)

When a person is hooked, he is broken in the center (央).

決 - decide, 8, けつ (tsunami+Broken center)
快 - pleasant, 30, かい (soul+Broken center)

Hooked arrow (Hooked arrow)

喉 - throat, 18, こう (mouth+leader+Hooked arrow)
候 - climate, 25, こう (leader+stick+Hooked arrow)

Suitable flowery crown (Suitable flowery crown)

塔 - tower, 44, とう (dirt+Suitable flowery crown)
搭 - board, 53, とう (fingers+Suitable flowery crown)

Faithful husband (Faithful husband)

A husband let himself being stepped on by a cleat (of his wife), because he is faithful enough.

渓 - valley, 60, けい (tsunami+Faithful husband)
鶏 - chiken, 58, けい (Faithful husband+bird)

Hidden RHS (Hidden RHS)

Why hidden? Because it rolls with the tongue better.

隠 - hide, 25, いん (building+Hidden RHS)
穏 - calm, 46, おん (grain+Hidden RHS)

Capped turkey (Capped turkey)

Capped rather than a hat, although it is called “arrow” in WaniKani.

A turkey get shot by an arrow on its head, so he needs to hide the wound with a cap.

権 - rights, 21, けん (tree+Capped turkey)
観 - view, 22, かん (Capped turkey+see)
歓 - delight, 34, かん (Capped turkey+lack)
勧 - recommend, 39, かん (Capped turkey+power)
鶴 - crane, 49, つる (Capped turkey+bird)

Turkey fighter (Turkey fighter)

Turkey with two wolverine claws above his head, ready for a fight.

曜 - weekday, 16, よう (sun+Turkey fighter)
躍 - leap, 39, やく (foot+Turkey fighter)
濯 - wash, 51, たく (tsunami+Turkey fighter)

big-turkey (big turkey)

奪 - rob, 39, うば (big-turkey+measurement)
奮 - stirred up, 50, ふん (big-turkey+rice paddy)

net-zombie (net zombie)

環 - loop, 24, かん (king+net-zombie)
還 - send back, 38, かん (scooter+net-zombie)

Open box of concerns (Open box of concerns)

Treasure chest is opened, and grass came out - isn’t that an open box of concerns?

脳 - brain, 18, のう (moon+Open box of concerns)
悩 - worry, 27, なや (soul+Open box of concerns)

public-heart (Public heart)

聡 - wise, 51, そう (ear+public-heart)
総 - whole, 21, そう (thread+public-heart)

cliff-tofu (Cliff tofu)

派 - sect, 21, は (tsunami+cliff-tofu)
脈 - vein, 31, みゃく (moon+cliff-tofu)

Humbly sit (Humbly sit)

Humbly sit on the stool.

捜 - search, 25, そう (fingers+Humbly sit)
痩 - thin, 34, そう (sick+Humbly sit)

Drunkard holding a cross (Drunkard holding a cross)

Drunkard holding a cross high.

裁 - judge, 23, さい (Drunkard holding a cross+clothes)
載 - publish, 24, さい (Drunkard holding a cross+car)
戴 - receive, 53, たい (Drunkard holding a cross+rice paddy+together)
栽 - planting, 54, さい (Drunkard holding a cross+tree)
哉 - question mark, 57, や (Drunkard holding a cross+mouth)
繊 - fiber, 53, せん (thread+spikes+Drunkard holding a cross)

servant-stool (Servant stool)

緊 - tense, 29, きん (servant-stool+thread)
堅 - solid, 42, かた (servant-stool+ dirt)
賢 - clever, 48, けん (servant-stool+shellfish)

Kind heart (Kind heart)

A kind soldier, crossing the net to save us.

聴 - listen, 37, ちょう (ear+Kind heart)
徳 - virtue, 31, とく (loiter+Kind heart)

Kind clothes (Kind clothes)

懐 - nostalgia, 30, なつ (soul+Kind clothes)
壊 - break, 29, かい (dirt+Kind clothes)

Safety roof (Safety roof)

Putting on a better roof makes it certain to be safe (in an earthquake).

蜜 - honey, 41, みつ (Safety roof+insect)
密 - secrecy, 32, みつ (Safety roof+mountain)

have-scooter (I have a scooter (Have scooter))

髄 - marrow, 55, ずい (bone+have-scooter)
随 - all, 53, ずい (building+have-scooter)

54 Likes

I’m gonna do some extra training/reminder of these confusing items. Many thanks for compiling this list. :slight_smile:

tenor-3

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Thank you! I am trying to adapt all the mnemonics at some point and this gives a good idea on how much work it is going to be :rofl:

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The way you laid them out makes them look like Pokemon evolutions :thinking:

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At first I had wanted to make a sort of map with all kanji and how they connect to each other, but yeah, I soon realized that would have to be the work of a lifetime, not of a day or two. :roll_eyes:

:rofl: Well, I did try to catch 'em all…

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Oh heck yes! I wish WK used more of the kanji that already exist as radicals. I’m hoping this will help me with some of the ones I get confused on, and hopefully the last ones I haven’t learned yet will be able to stick better. Thank you!

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Awesome list. :smiley::+1:

Actually I think it would be a great idea to send the list to the Wanikani team as suggestions for the listings of similar kanji. As far as I know, those lists are almost entirely made from community feedback.

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Amazing ! I wanted to do this kind of list for a long time but couldn’t find the courage.

Here is another one:

死 - death, 6, し
葬 - burial, 37, そう (flower+death+twenty)

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There are at least RADKFILE and cjkvi-ids, actually.

It’s also possible to compile with OpenCV or Python Pillow, and manually edit a little. I have done it a long while ago, and probably need some cleaning…

As for suggestion, why not make a Google Sheets, so that everyone’s effort can be combined easily.

For printable radicals / Kanji, it is quite easy; but I don’t know about radical images.

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This is fantastic! Thank you for making/compiling this!

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I can’t believe not even death is a radical! Thank you, I hope you don’t mind that I added it to the list in the OP.

I haven’t made a Google Sheet before. Maybe I could make the first post a wiki instead, in case people are interested in contributing? Of course everyone feel free to use the information as you see fit. If someone wants to create a Google Sheet, they’d be very welcome to do so.

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Hey @Mods can you make the first post a wiki? Appreciate it :crabigator:!!

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No worries, as a regular I made it myself :slight_smile:
But @mods, feel free to take a look in case the list is useful to the WK team in some way!

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There is another resource I made long-long ago, and uses exactly cjkvi-ids. I can’t find a way to browse like this in Jisho. It is also optimized for Japanese. https://cjkhyperradicals.herokuapp.com/

I might fix it later, in case someone is interested.

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I meant in the default WK interface. Do you know if they use either of those?

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I believe they hand-picked too. They went as far as creating new radicals after all.

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Added a list of non-WK kanji than can serve as radicals for WK kanji in the OP. Also posted, in a third list, other WK kanji I have identified as having common components but couldn’t find a kanji for them. It might be interesting to make images of these common components, but that’s a project for another day.

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Latest update looks pretty neat, in particular “List of non-Wanikani kanji that can serve as radicals”. It looks very worthy as a Google Sheets project.

I will give this list for now. Non-WaniKani Kanji, and not don’t necessary use actual names found in Jisho, nor put all the readings here. (Also, I don’t put Jinmeiyo as a source.)

官 - government, 17, かん
棺 - coffin, Joyo, カン (tree+government)

式 - ritual, 15, しき
拭 - wipe, Joyo, ふ.く ぬぐ.う (finger+ritual)

卑 - lowly, 59, ひ
痺 - numb, Joyo, しび.れる ヒ(麻痺) (sick+lowly)
牌 - Mahjong tiles, newspaper, パイ (one-sided+lowly)

皆 - all, 13, みな
楷 - Kanji block style, Joyo, カイ (tree+all)
諧 - Haikai poem, Joyo, カイ (say+all)

凡 - mediocre, 56, ぼん
汎 - pan- / all-including, Joyo, ハン (tsunami+mediocre)

固 - hard, 14, こ
箇 - item counter, Joyo, カ (bamboo+hard)

居 - alive, 25, きょ
裾 - hem, Joyo, すそ (spirit+alive)

泉 - spring, 12, せん
腺 - gland, Joyo, セン (moon+spring)

留 - detain, 16, る
溜 - pool together, Joyo, リュウ た.める た.まる ため(溜息) (tsunami+detain)
榴 - pomegranate, -, リュウ(榴弾) ざくろ (tree+detain)

宛 - address, 39, あて
碗 - bowl, -, ワン(茶碗) (stone+address)

旬 - in season, 37, しゅん
絢 - gorgeous fabric, newspaper, ケン(絢爛) (thread+in season)

加 - add, 19, か
架 - shelf, 46, か (add+tree)
駕 - palanquin, -, かご ガ(凌駕) (add+horse)
茄 - eggplant, -, なす(茄子) (grass+add)
伽 - nursing / fairy tale / visit temple, -, とぎ(お伽話し) (leader+add)

尊 - revered, 33, そん
遵 - law-abiding, Joyo, ジュン(遵法) (scooter+revered)
樽 - barrel, newspaper, たる (tree+revered)

死 - death, 6, し
屍 - corpse, -, しかばね シ (flag+death)

It also reminds me that, I don’t like WaniKani clipping out Okurigana for Kun readings.

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I feel like changing radical names. Choosing unique names isn’t easy - I really feel for WaniKani team.

(喬 - feeling high, N1, たか)
(卆 - private Ryan, -, ソツ)
(孰 - eventually, -, いず.れ ジュク)
(竟- finally, -, キョウ)
(帛 - white robe, -, きぬ ハク)
(帚 - cleansing broom, -, ソウ)
(賁 - respectful decoration, -, フン)
(奐 - lustrous, -, カン)
(侖 - careful thinking, -, リン)
(隶 - underling, Chinese, タイ) Simplified form of 隸(奴隸)
(孚 - sincere / bring up, -, フ) See Goo.
(埶 - powerful, -, ゲイ)
(戠 - yellow clay / sword, -, ショク シ zhí)
(曼 - vast, -, マン)
(桼 - dried lacquer, -, うるし)

Also, giving the pretty much unused Kanji’s reading isn’t easy.

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Not easy at all! Why change names for those who already have them though? They work well enough. (Although I kind of hate broom+woman=wife :rage:). Dried lacquer sounds good - it’s the only one that doesn’t seem to have an official name of its own I think.

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