Radical errors ?

[flameproof]

Does the radical function has errors?

When I look at "月" in the radicals function and click it, the first character is "肉" - that is obviously wrong, right?


When I look at "手" in the radicals function and click it, the first 2 characters are "手" and "才" - but "才" is not related to 手. However, it looks a little similar to the compound character form of 手, as seen in "扎"

 

[jamesquek]

No, no errors here. 月 radical can mean both moon as well as flesh. That's why it's a radical used in body related characters like 脑，肺.

手and 才are also related. If you go to http://www.zhongwen.com and use the radical entry and click 手, you will see both characters grouped together.

 

[chao-ren]

jamesquek: No, no errors here. 月 radical can mean both moon as well as flesh. That's why it's a radical used in body related characters like 脑，肺.

correct. The 'flesh' 肉 radical used to have another non-independent form which appear somewhat like the present day character for moon(月) only a bit slanted. printed characters eventually merged the two forms into the present day moon character(月) So that is why the same character can have two meanings: flesh or moon. Most bodily parts have this radical to signify a flesh related character.

Flameproof: When I look at "手" in the radicals function and click it, the first 2 characters are "手" and "才" - but "才" is not related to 手. However, it looks a little similar to the compound character form of 手, as seen in "扎"

I have the same problem with Flameproof. I do not think "手" and " 才" are at all related!! My guess is that there is a misprint at zhongwen.com (rare but still possible) about putting the two characters "together". It is most likely in my opinion that the "才" was meant to show instead the non-independent form of the hand radical or the left side of zha2 "扎" (bind or bundle).. The meaning of these two characters are too far apart to be grouped under shou "手" as James suggests...

 

[mikelove]

"手" and " 才" are not etymologically related, but quoting Wenlin's excellent character reference:

"才 is traditionally listed under 手 (shǒu 'hand') radical 64."

And indeed looking at several other dictionaries in my collection it seems like the same is true with those. There are only about half a dozen characters which specifically use 才 as a component, as opposed to the 手 radical, so it wouldn't really make sense to give 才 its own separate radical entry when it has so much in common visually with 手.