Chinese course / HSK1 / Characters
HSK1: character recognition
Begin with the gentle character starter if these shapes are new. This page is the official HSK 3.0 study list, with links to words containing each character. Use five to ten targets alongside words you already understand.
Look at a character inside a familiar word. Cover the word's reading and meaning, recall them, then open its example to check. Recognising a component alone does not tell you the meaning of every word containing it.
246 characters · Batch 10 of 25. Showing the selected level's list.
可
Learn inside a word
A horizontal top, a small 口 and a right-hand vertical hook. Compare this shape with the repeated parts of 哥.
可以 · kě yǐ
can; may, often for permission or possibility
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 5 strokes · write 可
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
客
Learn inside a word
宀 above 各. The lower part includes a turning upper shape above 口.
客人 · kè rén
guest; visitor
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
不客气 · bú kèqi
you’re welcome
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 客
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
课
Learn inside a word
讠 on the left and 果 on the right. Compare its right side with the 青 in 请.
课 · kè
class; lesson
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
上课 · shàngkè
attend or teach a class
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 10 strokes · write 课
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
口
Learn inside a word
A small box shape with an empty inside. In handwriting the box uses three strokes, not four separately drawn sides.
门口 · mén kǒu
doorway; entrance area
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
口 · kǒu
a classifier for family members; mouth in other contexts
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 3 strokes · write 口
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
块
Learn inside a word
土 on the left and 夬 on the right. Compare the left side with the 钅 in 钱.
五块钱 · wǔ kuài qián
five yuan, in everyday speech
块 is the everyday unit word here. It also counts chunks or pieces in other phrases.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
块 · kuài
yuan, in everyday speech; a piece in other contexts
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 7 strokes · write 块
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
来
Learn inside a word
A horizontal top and central vertical line pass through small upper-side strokes and spreading lower strokes. Contrast the full outline with 木.
来 · lái
come
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 7 strokes · write 来
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
老
Learn inside a word
A crossed upper part with a sloping stroke sits above 匕. Look for the same lower part in 它, where it is under a roof.
老师 · lǎo shī
teacher
老 means old in some uses, but 老师 is the ordinary word for teacher. It does not say the teacher is elderly.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 老
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
了
Learn inside a word
An upper turning stroke and a lower vertical hook. Compare with 子, which has an extra horizontal stroke.
了 · le
particle used for a completed action or a changed situation, depending on its position
了 is neutral le as a particle. It is not simply an English past-tense ending. Other words can use liǎo.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 2 strokes · write 了
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
冷
Learn inside a word
Two-stroke 冫 on the left and 令 on the right. Compare with three-stroke 氵 in 汉.
冷 · lěng
cold
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 7 strokes · write 冷
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
里
Learn inside a word
An upper enclosed shape with a crossing joins lower horizontal lines along a central vertical. Compare with 果, whose lower strokes spread outward.
房间里 · fáng jiān lǐ
inside the room
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
里 · lǐ
inside; in
哪里 · nǎlǐ
where
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 7 strokes · write 里
Watch the direction and order. Use “Next stroke” to go slowly, then try writing with the model hidden. On paper, copy once, cover the model, write once, and compare.
Open this panel to load the model.
The writing check compares your strokes with this model. A completed trace is practice, rather than proof of independent handwriting. Your strokes stay on this page.
The model's font shape can differ from the reading font. Compare stroke structure and proportions rather than font styling.
Source and coverage
Character lists come from the official HSK 3.0 syllabus. Recognition and handwriting lists remain separate. All listed characters have local stroke models; the guided prose teaches selected characters. This inventory, model practice and word links do not constitute complete character instruction or exam readiness.
Stroke models: Hanzi Writer Data, derived from Make Me a Hanzi. Copyright © 1999 Arphic Technology Co., Ltd. Data is provided without warranty and may be redistributed under the Arphic Public License. The renderer uses the MIT license.