I need to learn what?

哈哈。

You need a bigger monitor, and bigger font sizes.

These 2 are both leeches in my Anki deck b/c I can't get them straight either.

Have fun, jbradfor.

But it isn't a phonetic component.

But it isn't a phonetic component.

It's the non-radical parts. And it's not an obvious combination such as 尖 or 歪. Therefore, in my book, it's the phonetic component, even if it provides absolutely no clue as to how it's pronounced.

Can't wait to get your take on 末vs.未.

Can't wait to get your take on 末vs.未.

嘻嘻嘻

How do 室 and 至 _not_ sound similar? /至/ = /d/+/室/, right?

(I'm totally with you on 屋 vs 室 though!)

...FYI 室 has an entering tone in Middle Chinese; sounds kind of like "shit". 至 sounds like "ji".

Can't wait to get your take on 末vs.未.

Those don't bother me. They are just different characters with different meanings. Sure, one needs to pay attention to which is which, but the context usually makes it clear. We even have a thread on this somewhere. 屋 vs 室get me because the meaning is so close as well. Besides, even that's no where near as bad as 陝 vs 陜.

How do 室 and 至 _not_ sound similar? /至/ = /d/+/室/, right?

I pronounce them quite differently. Maybe I'm just doing them wrong.

How do 室 and 至 _not_ sound similar? /至/ = /d/+/室/, right?(I'm totally with you on 屋 vs 室 though!)

Surely zhi is more like d + ri?

末 and 未 are two completely different radicals, wei is "2" or 土and mo is like 士

...they're both 木.

Can't wait to get your take on 末vs.未.

they bear totally different meanings... So i guess it will not be an issue?

FOR"室" and“屋”, the best advice I can give is forget about radicals and ponetics. The only way they can help is giving your a headache. It seems to me though, that 屋is used in a broader sense.

小屋/屋子/房屋(they don't determine what the room is used for)

教室/办公室/手术室/囚室(they do determine what the rooms are used for)

I am NOT sure if I am getting this right but to the extent I can recall, that could be a difference?