残 meaning and stroke order
To destroy; to spoil; to ruin
How to write 残, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 残
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to destroy
- to spoil
- to ruin
- to injure
- cruel
- oppressive
How 残 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Death.
歹 gives the meaning and 戋 hints at the sound.
Radical: 歹 (corpse), shared by 29 characters on this site.
How to remember 残
The left side 歹 is linked to death, so it signals harm, and the right side 戋 gives the sound. Picture something damaged almost to death and left broken, and you get 残 (cán): ruined, cruel, incomplete.
残 rarely stands alone in modern speech. It appears in words about cruelty like 残酷 (cánkù) and 残忍 (cánrěn), and words about damage or leftovers like 残疾 (cánjí) and 残留 (cánliú). Example: 这个故事很残酷。(Zhège gùshi hěn cánkù.) This story is very cruel.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 残 with 线 (xiàn, thread) and 钱 (qián, money), since all three share 戋. Check the left side: 歹 for harm, 纟 for silk, 钅 for metal. Also keep the second tone in cán, not can or càn.
Common words with 残
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 残酷 | cánkù | cruel; harsh; merciless | HSK 6 |
| 残疾 | cánjí | disabled; handicapped | HSK 6 |
| 残疾人 | cánjírén | disabled person | HSK 6 |
| 残忍 | cánrěn | cruel; merciless; ruthless | HSK 7-9 |
| 残留 | cánliú | to remain; to be left over; residual; remnant | HSK 7-9 |
| 凶残 | xiōngcán | savage; cruel | HSK 7-9 |
| 残缺 | cánquē | badly damaged; shattered | HSK 7-9 |
| 伤残 | shāngcán | disabled; maimed | HSK 7-9 |
| 残骸 | cánhái | remains; wreckage | |
| 残暴 | cánbào | brutal; vicious; ruthless | |
| 残废 | cánfèi | deformity; handicapped | |
| 自相残杀 | zìxiāngcánshā | to massacre one another (idiom); internecine strife | |
| 脑残 | nǎocán | moronic; brainless | |
| 残杀 | cánshā | to massacre; to slaughter |
残 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 残
How many strokes are in 残?
残 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 残 mean?
残 (cán) means to destroy; to spoil; to ruin. A common word with it is 残酷 (cánkù), meaning "cruel; harsh; merciless".
How do you pronounce 残?
残 is pronounced cán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 残?
The radical of 残 is 歹, which carries the idea of "corpse". Dictionaries list 残 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 残?
The traditional form of 残 is 殘. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 残 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 残 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 残 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 残酷 and 残忍?
Both mean cruel. 残忍 (cánrěn) usually describes a person or act that is heartless, like killing an animal for fun. 残酷 (cánkù) often describes harsh realities or situations, like 残酷的现实 (cánkù de xiànshí), harsh reality.
Is 残疾人 a polite way to say disabled person?
Yes, 残疾人 (cánjírén) is the standard, neutral term used in official and everyday Chinese. Older words like 残废 (cánfèi) sound rude today and should be avoided.