Among the 214 Chinese radicals, radical 74 in Chinese (月 – yuè) is one of the fundamental radicals and appears frequently in Chinese characters at almost every learning level, from beginner to advanced. This article provides a comprehensive guide to radical 74 in Chinese, covering its historical origin, stroke order, commonly used vocabulary, and practical everyday conversations to help you learn and remember Chinese characters more effectively.
Overview of Radical 74 in Chinese
Radical 74 in Chinese (月 – yuè) is the 74th radical among the 214 Kangxi radicals. It means “moon” and appears in many commonly used Chinese characters.
From a historical perspective, the Chinese character 月 (yuè) is originally a pictograph based on the image of a crescent moon. Ancient Chinese characters deliberately depicted the moon as a crescent rather than a full circle because a circular shape could easily be confused with radical 72 (日 – rì), meaning “sun.”
In Chinese characters, 月 can appear as an independent character or as a component of other characters. When used independently, 月 can mean “month” or “moon,” as in 月份 (yuèfèn) – month and 月亮 (yuèliang) – moon.
When used as a character component, the meaning associated with radical 74 in Chinese may relate to the moon or time. However, in many characters, 月 functions as a semantic component associated with the human body and body parts.
How to Write Radical 74 in Chinese
Radical 74 in Chinese (月) consists of 4 strokes. Follow the stroke order below:
| Stroke Order | Stroke Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Left-falling stroke (丿) | Start from the top and make a slightly curved stroke toward the lower left, gradually reducing pressure toward the end. |
| 2 | Horizontal-turning-hook stroke (𠃌) | Start from the endpoint of the first stroke, move horizontally to the right, turn downward, and finish with a slight hook toward the upper left. |
| 3 | Horizontal stroke (一) | Write a short horizontal stroke inside the character, around the upper-middle section. It should not touch the right side of the character. |
| 4 | Horizontal stroke (一) | Write another short horizontal stroke parallel to the third stroke, positioned below it. It should also remain separate from the right side. |
Writing tips: When practicing radical 74 in Chinese (月), pay attention to the overall proportions of the character. Keep the body relatively balanced, make the two inner horizontal strokes moderate in length, and maintain even spacing between them.
Vocabulary Containing Radical 74 in Chinese
Learning radical 74 in Chinese (月) through familiar vocabulary can make Chinese characters easier to recognize and remember. Instead of memorizing radicals in isolation, connecting them with commonly used words allows learners to understand how characters are used in real-life contexts.
| Chinese Character | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 月亮 | yuèliang | moon |
| 月份 | yuèfèn | month |
| 月饼 | yuèbǐng | mooncake |
| 月光 | yuèguāng | moonlight |
| 月底 | yuèdǐ | end of the month |
| 月初 | yuèchū | beginning of the month |
| 月薪 | yuèxīn | monthly salary |
| 岁月 | suìyuè | years; the passage of time |
| 明白 | míngbai | to understand; clear |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow |
| 明年 | míngnián | next year |
| 明显 | míngxiǎn | obvious; apparent |
| 明星 | míngxīng | celebrity; star |
| 朋友 | péngyou | friend |
| 星期 | xīngqī | week |
| 假期 | jiàqī | holiday; vacation |
| 定期 | dìngqī | regular; periodic |
| 预期 | yùqī | expectation; expected |
| 阴阳 | yīnyáng | yin and yang |
| 晴朗 | qínglǎng | sunny; clear |
| 朝代 | cháodài | dynasty |
| 身体 | shēntǐ | body; health |
| 皮肤 | pífū | skin |
| 肌肉 | jīròu | muscle |
| 骨头 | gútou | bone |
| 眼睛 | yǎnjing | eyes |
| 耳朵 | ěrduo | ear |
| 脖子 | bózi | neck |
| 肩膀 | jiānbǎng | shoulder |
| 手臂 | shǒubì | arm |
| 手指 | shǒuzhǐ | finger |
| 胸口 | xiōngkǒu | chest |
| 肚子 | dùzi | belly; stomach |
| 腰部 | yāobù | waist; lower back |
| 腿 | tuǐ | leg |
| 大腿 | dàtuǐ | thigh |
| 小腿 | xiǎotuǐ | calf; lower leg |
| 脚后跟 | jiǎohòugēn | heel |
| 心脏 | xīnzàng | heart |
| 肝脏 | gānzàng | liver |
| 脾胃 | píwèi | spleen and stomach; digestive system |
| 肺部 | fèibù | lungs; lung area |
| 肾脏 | shènzàng | kidney |
| 脑子 | nǎozi | brain; mind |
| 胆小 | dǎnxiǎo | timid; cowardly |
| 胖子 | pàngzi | fat person; overweight person |
| 减肥 | jiǎnféi | to lose weight |
| 臃肿 | yōngzhǒng | bulky; bloated |
| 服装 | fúzhuāng | clothing; apparel |
| 服务 | fúwù | service; to serve |
| 克服 | kèfú | to overcome |
| 胜负 | shèngfù | victory or defeat |
| 胜利 | shènglì | victory |
| 能够 | nénggòu | to be able to |
| 无论 | wúlùn | regardless of; no matter |
| 脏乱 | zāngluàn | dirty and messy |
| 脆弱 | cuìruò | fragile; vulnerable |
| 衣服 | yīfu | clothes |
| 服饰 | fúshì | clothing and accessories |
| 服从 | fúcóng | to obey; to comply |
| 背景 | bèijǐng | background; context |
| 脸色 | liǎnsè | complexion; facial expression |
| 脾气 | píqì | temper; temperament |
Chinese Conversations Using Vocabulary With Radical 74
One of the most effective ways to remember radical 74 in Chinese is to see characters and vocabulary used in natural conversations rather than memorizing them individually.
The following four short dialogues cover everyday situations such as making plans, shopping, discussing health, and exercising. They allow learners to review vocabulary while seeing how these words are naturally used in context.
Conversation 1
A: 你这个月底有时间吗？
Nǐ zhège yuèdǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?
Do you have time at the end of this month?
B: 有啊，怎么了？
Yǒu a, zěnme le?
Sure. What’s up?
A: 我想和你一起吃饭。
Wǒ xiǎng hé nǐ yìqǐ chīfàn.
I’d like to have dinner with you.
B: 好啊，月底我应该不太忙。
Hǎo a, yuèdǐ wǒ yīnggāi bú tài máng.
Sure. I shouldn’t be too busy at the end of the month.
A: 那我们星期六晚上见吧。
Nà wǒmen xīngqīliù wǎnshang jiàn ba.
Then let’s meet on Saturday evening.
B: 好，到时候你发地址给我。
Hǎo, dào shíhou nǐ fā dìzhǐ gěi wǒ.
Okay, send me the address then.
Key vocabulary: 月底 (yuèdǐ) – end of the month
Conversation 2
A: 你觉得这件衣服怎么样？
Nǐ juéde zhè jiàn yīfu zěnmeyàng?
What do you think of this outfit?
B: 我觉得很好看，很适合你。
Wǒ juéde hěn hǎokàn, hěn shìhé nǐ.
I think it looks great and suits you.
A: 真的？我觉得颜色有点亮。
Zhēn de? Wǒ juéde yánsè yǒudiǎn liàng.
Really? I think the color is a little bright.
B: 不会啊，穿起来很有精神。
Bú huì a, chuān qǐlái hěn yǒu jīngshen.
Not at all. It makes you look energetic.
A: 那我试试看。
Nà wǒ shìshi kàn.
Then I’ll try it on.
B: 好，如果合适就买下来吧。
Hǎo, rúguǒ héshì jiù mǎi xiàlái ba.
Okay. If it fits, just buy it.
Key vocabulary: 衣服 (yīfu) – clothes; 服装 (fúzhuāng) – clothing
Conversation 3
A: 你的脸色看起来不太好。
Nǐ de liǎnsè kàn qǐlái bú tài hǎo.
You don’t look very well.
B: 我昨天晚上没睡好。
Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang méi shuì hǎo.
I didn’t sleep well last night.
A: 是不是最近工作太忙了？
Shì bú shì zuìjìn gōngzuò tài máng le?
Have you been too busy with work lately?
B: 对，而且昨天晚上还胃痛。
Duì, érqiě zuótiān wǎnshang hái wèitòng.
Yes, and I also had a stomachache last night.
A: 那你今天早点回家休息吧。
Nà nǐ jīntiān zǎodiǎn huí jiā xiūxi ba.
Then you should go home and get some rest today.
B: 好的，谢谢你的关心。
Hǎo de, xièxie nǐ de guānxīn.
Okay. Thanks for caring.
Key vocabulary: 脸色 (liǎnsè) – complexion; 胃痛 (wèitòng) – stomachache
Conclusion
Learning radical 74 in Chinese (月) can help you expand your Chinese vocabulary in a more systematic and logical way. Although 月 originally represents the moon, it also appears in many characters related to time, months, body parts, and internal organs.
Rather than memorizing individual characters one by one, try learning radical 74 in Chinese through vocabulary groups and everyday conversations. This approach can make Chinese characters easier to recognize, help you remember new words for longer, and give you a better understanding of how Chinese characters are constructed.
We hope this guide from Ni Hao Ma has helped you better understand radical 74 in Chinese, including its meaning, stroke order, vocabulary, and practical usage. For more guides to Chinese radicals, vocabulary, and Mandarin learning tips, explore more articles on the Ni Hao Ma website and follow our learning resources for regular updates.
