WHOLE CHARACTER
清
clear; clean
The complete character brings the form, sound, and meaning together.
Character FamiliesPhono-semantic · 形声
清
clear; clean
A water-related meaning clue on the left. A sound clue on the right. Two different jobs inside one character.
Chinese proficiency standard (2021) · Character Level 2Clue ≠ guarantee青 helps with pronunciation, but it does not guarantee the same modern tone in every family member.
SEE THE TWO ROLES
氵 + 青
Break the character apart to see its left and right pieces.
Whole character · 清
MEANING COMPONENT
氵
water-related
A component form of 水. It offers a meaning clue, not a standalone word or HSK character label.
INDEPENDENT CHARACTER
青
blue; green
These are 青’s own common meanings.
In 清: sound clue 青 mainly supports pronunciation here. Its color meaning is not the meaning of 清.
Checking for a Mandarin voice…
COMPARE THE FAMILY
One sound clue, different tones
The left component changes the meaning clue. The whole character still needs its own learned reading.
清clear; clean氵 · water-related
晴sunny; clear weather日 · sun / daylight
情feeling; emotion忄· heart / feelings
请please; to ask讠 · speech