cover
two descending ends
2 strokes · Radical: 冖冖 vs 宀 vs 亠 vs 一: How to Tell Them Apart
CHARACTERS AT A GLANCE
冖two descending ends · mì · cover
宀a dot above the cover · gài · roof; house
亠a dot over a single horizontal without the side descenders of 宀 · tóu · lid, cover; head
一only a horizontal · yī · one; a, an; alone
01 · SEE THE DIFFERENCE
What is added or changed in each character?
Dark red marks the deciding detail
Play each character and compare the highlighted details.
Why the difference is easy to miss
冖 and 宀 and 亠 and 一 share an outline that is easy to read too quickly.
一 is only a horizontal; 冖 adds two descending ends; 宀 adds a dot above the cover; 亠 is a dot over a single horizontal without the side descenders of 宀. At a glance, that shared shape can make the dot and the side descenders to show one line / cover / roof / dot-over-line easy to overlook.
Check the shape first, then confirm with the word.
If the surrounding word/meaning conflicts with the character you first recognized, re-check top component.
Choose the right character.
Which character in 冖 / 宀 / 亠 / 一 matches “cover”?
Choose one answer.Which character in 冖 / 宀 / 亠 / 一 matches “roof”?
Choose one answer.Which character matches “head”?
Choose one answer.How do I tell 冖 vs 宀 vs 亠 vs 一 apart?
一 is only a horizontal; 冖 adds two descending ends; 宀 adds a dot above the cover; 亠 is a dot over a single horizontal without the side descenders of 宀. Then confirm with meaning/context.
What should I check when these characters appear in words?
Use meaning as the second route after visual discrimination: 冖 = cover; 宀 = roof; 亠 = head; 一 = one. If the surrounding word/meaning conflicts with the character you first recognized, re-check top component.