WHOLE CHARACTER
该
should; ought to; that; the aforementioned; to owe; to deserve (活该)
该 puts speech beside 亥 (hài): what you should do (应该), or money you owe.
ZDIC: 形声，从讠、亥声.
Character Familiesleft / right
该
should; ought to; that; the aforementioned; to owe; to deserve (活该)
该 puts speech beside 亥 (hài): what you should do (应该), or money you owe.
GF0025–2021 character list · 二级One character pageAll readings and linked senses stay together.
WHOLE GLYPH & STRUCTURE
left / right
ZDIC: 形声，从讠、亥声.
MEANING: THE SPEECH RADICAL
讠
speech (from 言)
The simplified speech form; not a standalone page.
In 该: meaning: the speech radical The simplified speech radical.
SOUND: 亥 (HÀI)
亥
twelfth earthly branch
The serial dictionary meaning is kept separate from its sound role.
In 该: sound: 亥 (hài) A sound hint only: gāi and hài share the final -ai; the initials differ (g vs h), so 亥 is history, not a modern sound match.
Tone 1
- should; ought to
- that; the aforementioned
- to owe
- to deserve (活该)
- 应该should; ought to
- 活该to deserve it (misfortune)
Checking for a Mandarin voice…