[[Radicals]] #Radicals #5-Strokes ## 而 (ér) Kanxi Radical 126 ![[而 (ér).svg]] **Variation of the radical:** [[⺺ (ér)]] [[⺻ (ér)]] ## Meaning The radical 而 (ér) is derived from the character 耳 (ěr), which means "ear." In Chinese characters, this radical typically symbolizes aspects related to hearing, listening, or the physical ear itself. It is commonly found in characters associated with these concepts. Historically, 而 (ér) has evolved into a versatile component in Chinese characters. While its original form represented the ear, over time, it also acquired additional meanings and functions. For instance, it appears in the character 而 (ér) itself, which serves as a conjunction meaning "and," "yet," "but," or "while" in sentences, indicating relationships between clauses or ideas. ## Examples Here are some Chinese characters that contain the radical 而 (ér): [[而 ér]] - and, but, yet [[需 xū]] - to need