Radical 忄

11 strokes

慣

heart 忄 (339a) + pierce 贯 (776b) = habitual 惯

习惯 (735) xíguàn habit; be used to

Cupid flies around the neighborhood piercing the hearts of the habitual criminals (in the hope that this will reform them). / The ghostly dwarf, who protects the neighborhood, sits on a gantry, directing who to shoot at.

Writing this one often catches people out! It is derived from “mother” (Character 127) and has the same “sloping” appearance. Contrast the stroke order with, for example, the stroke order for “field” (156a). the stroke-count for this fragment is 4, not 5!

貫

pierced 毌 (776a) + sea shell 贝 (477a) = pierce 贯

Finding a pierced sea shell on the beach, she thinks, “I could pierce lots of shells and string them together to make necklaces!” / [No pronunciation needed]