Spot 首
Find the repeated shape and notice where it sits before trying to memorize the whole character.
Visual pattern
首 component
shǒu · chief, head, leader
A recurring visual building block found inside multiple Chinese characters. Compare what stays the same and what changes across the family.
A repeatable reading move
How to use 首
Use the component as a clue, then verify the complete character.
Compare the visual pattern
Use the stable shape to recognize the family, without assuming it always supplies meaning or sound.
Check what changes
Read the remaining component, then confirm the full pinyin, meaning, and stroke order on the character page.
Shared clue首Visual pattern
Read the pattern before memorizing the list
Use the shared shape as a recognition anchor, then confirm the full character's pronunciation and meaning.
The component page is a learning family; the radical page is a dictionary index. A shape can serve both roles.
Compare the family
What stays the same, what changes?
Each card keeps 首 visible while showing the other building blocks and the completed character.
道=
辶
馗=
九
艏=
舟
馘=
+或
Move into vocabulary
Words you can read next
These words contain characters from the 首 family. Open one to see its complete breakdown.
知道zhīdào
to know
HSK 3.0 · L1道dàoroad
HSK 3.0 · L4道路dàolùroad
HSK 3.0 · L4道歉dàoqiànto apologize
HSK 3.0 · L4街道jiēdàostreet
HSK 3.0 · L4难道nándàodon't tell me ...
HSK 3.0 · L4味道wèidàoflavor
HSK 3.0 · L4报道bàodàoto report
HSK 3.0 · L5道理dàolǐreason
HSK 3.0 · L5跑道pǎodàoathletic track
HSK 3.0 · L5打交道dǎjiāodaoto come into contact with
HSK 3.0 · L6道德dàodévirtue
HSK 3.0 · L6