Strokes
Parts of a Chinese Character
The Chinese writing system, known as Hanzi, is one of the oldest and most fascinating writing systems in the world. It is a pictographic language with a history of thousands of years.
5 Basic Strokes
横 横héng
Horizontal stroke is the most common stroke in Chinese characters. It is executed by starting from the left side of the character and moving the brush horizontally to the right.
竖 竖shù
The vertical stroke is executed by starting from the top right corner of the character and moving the brush vertically downwards. It is used to create vertical lines or columns in Chinese characters.
撇 撇piě
The Left Falling stroke is executed by starting from the top right corner of the character and moving the brush diagonally downwards and to the left. It is used to create diagonal lines or slanted strokes in Chinese characters.
捺 捺nà
The Right Falling stroke is executed by starting from the center of the character and moving the brush in a circular motion. It is used to create circular or curved lines in Chinese characters.
点 点diǎn
The dot stroke, also known as the "dotting stroke," is executed by starting from the center of the character and moving the brush in a small circle to create a dot. It is used to create dots or small circles in Chinese characters.
27 Other Strokes
Horizontal hook
横钩 héng gōu
Left horizontal falling
横撇 hénɡ piě
Horizontal with a left falling and a curve
横撇弯钩 hénɡ piě wān ɡōu
Horizontal with vertical upward turning
横斜钩 hénɡ xié ɡōu
Horizontal turning
横折 hénɡ zhé
Horizontal turning with a hook
横折钩 hénɡ zhé ɡōu
Horizontal turning with a rising
横折提 hénɡ zhé tí
Horizontal bending with an upward hook
横折弯钩 hénɡ zhé wān ɡōu
Horizontal and redoubled turning
横折折折 hénɡ zhé zhé zhé
Horizontal and redoubled turning
横折折 hénɡ zhé zhé
Horizontal and redoubled turning with a left falling
横折折撇 hénɡ zhé zhé piě
Horizontal turning with a curve to the right
横折弯 hénɡ zhé wān
Left-falling dot
撇点 piě diǎn
Left-falling turning
撇折 piě zhé
Vertical hook
竖钩 shù ɡōu
Vertical-rising
竖提 shù tí
Vertical turning
竖弯 shù wān
Vertical upward turning
竖弯钩 shù wān ɡōu
Vertical turning to the right
竖折 shù zhé
Vertical turning with a left falling
竖折撇 shù zhé piě
Vertical and redoubled turning
竖折折 shù zhé zhé
Vertical and redoubled turning with a hook
竖折折钩 shù zhé zhé ɡōu
Curved hook
弯钩 wān ɡōu
Lying hook
卧钩 wò ɡōu
Rising stroke
提 tí
Slant hook
斜钩 xié ɡōu
Horizontal and redoubled turning with a hook to the left
横折折折钩 hénɡ zhé zhé zhé ɡōu
Stroke Order
The Chinese writing system, known as Hanzi, is one of the oldest and most fascinating writing systems in the world. It is a pictographic language with a history of thousands of years. Unlike alphabetic languages, Chinese characters represent syllables, words, or even phrases, each with its unique structure and meaning. One of the most distinctive features of Chinese characters is their stroke order, which refers to the sequence of brushstrokes used to create each character.
Stroke order plays a crucial role in Chinese calligraphy and handwriting. It helps to create characters with balance and aesthetics, and following the correct stroke order can make characters easier to read and write. In China, children are taught the stroke order of Chinese characters in primary school, and it is considered an essential part of their education.
Example：Stroke order of character “好”
1
2
3
4
5
6
Following the correct stroke order is crucial for writing Chinese characters correctly and beautifully. It helps to create a sense of balance and harmony in the characters, and it also makes the characters easier to read and understand.
The Chinese writing system is a unique and fascinating language with a rich history and culture. The stroke order of Chinese characters is an essential aspect of the language, and it plays a crucial role in Chinese calligraphy and handwriting. Mastering the correct stroke order requires practice, dedication, and a deep understanding of the language and its cultural context.