偏(へん)

A term used in kanji study for a structural component confined to the left side of a character, distinct from 垂(た)れ and 繞(にょう), which also touch the left side but wrap around the top or bottom. In the traditional classification system, kanji components are categorized by their position within the character.

Kanji component positions

• 偏(へん): left side (e.g., the 氵(さんずい) in 海(うみ))
• 旁(つくり): right side (e.g., the 刂(りっとう) in 割(わ)る)
• 冠(かんむり): top (e.g., the 宀(うかんむり) in 家(いえ))
• 脚(あし): bottom (e.g., the 灬(れんが) in 点(てん))
• 構(かま)え: enclosure (e.g., the 門(もん)がまえ in 間(あいだ))
• 垂(た)れ: top-left wrap (e.g., the 广(まだれ) in 店(みせ))
• 繞(にょう): bottom-left wrap (e.g., the 辶(しんにょう) in 道(みち))

COMMON RADICALS CALLED 偏(へん):

• 人偏(にんべん): person
• 言偏(ごんべん): speech
• 手偏(てへん): hand
• 木偏(きへん): tree
• 水偏(さんずい): water
• 金偏(かねへん): metal

Watch out

Not to be confused with 変(へん) (strange) or 辺(へん) (area, vicinity), which have the same reading but completely different meanings.