该gāi
should, ought to. 8 strokes, radical 讠, first met in HSK 2.
How to write 该
Strokes 1–2 write 讠, then strokes 3–8 write 亥.
Free, with no account: the app draws each stroke, then you write it and it says which stroke went wrong.
Print a 米字格 practice sheet for 该 · the stroke-order rules
What 该 is made of
讠 (yán, words) and 亥 (hài, 12th terrestrial branch).
讠 carries the meaning — speech — and 亥 carries the sound.
Words that use 该
| 该 | should, ought to 到了必须去做某件事的时刻 时间不早了，我们该回家了。It's getting late — we should head home. Lesson 24, 谢谢你 · 繁弦急管与民生日用 · Community Living, Daily Care & Festive Rhythms |
| 应该 | should, ought to 表示按道理理应如此 青年应该奋勇拼搏，努力向前。Young people should strive bravely and push forward. Lesson 92, 音乐会 · 见微知著与守正出新 · Insight from the Minute & Innovation with Integrity |
Characters that share the sound part 亥
Written with the same phonetic, so their readings tend to rhyme with each other.
More characters with the radical 讠
All 50 of them, and what the radical means, on the 言 radical page.