Spot 北
Find the repeated shape and notice where it sits before trying to memorize the whole character.
Visual pattern
北 component
běi · north; northern; northward
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 北
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北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 北 visible while showing the other building blocks and the completed character.
背=
+⺼
乘=
禾
乖=
千
邶=
+阝
冀=
+異
燕=
廿+口+灬
Move into vocabulary
Words you can read next
These words contain characters from the 北 family. Open one to see its complete breakdown.
背bēi
to be burdened
HSK 3.0 · L4背包bēibāoknapsack
HSK 3.0 · L4乘chéngold variant of 乘[cheng2]
HSK 3.0 · L4乘客chéngkèpassenger
HSK 3.0 · L4乘坐chéngzuòto take
HSK 3.0 · L4换乘huànchéngto change train
HSK 3.0 · L4背后bèihòubehind
HSK 3.0 · L5背景bèijǐngbackground
HSK 3.0 · L5乘务员chéngwùyuánattendant on an airplane, train, boat etc
HSK 3.0 · L5乘Chéngsurname Cheng
HSK 2.0 · L5背心bèixīnsleeveless garment
HSK 3.0 · L6乘chéngold variant of 乘[cheng2]
HSK 3.0 · L6