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 12 of 25. Showing the selected level's list.
么
Learn inside a word
A sloping top stroke above the small turning shape 厶. Do not add the left-hand 亻 found in 什么's first character 什.
什么 · shén me
what
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
怎么 · zěnme
how; why, depending on context
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 3 strokes · write 么
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.
没
Learn inside a word
氵 on the left and 殳 on the right. Compare its right-hand part with the 又 of 汉.
没有 · méi yǒu
do not have; there is not
没 is méi here. Other words, such as 淹没, use mò.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
没事 · méishì
it is nothing; nothing is wrong
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 7 strokes · write 没
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.
妹
Learn inside a word
女 on the left and 未 on the right. Compare the right side with the 且 in 姐.
妹妹 · mèi mei
younger sister
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 8 strokes · write 妹
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.
们
Learn inside a word
亻 on the left and 门 on the right. Compare with 他 and 你 by checking the right-hand part.
我们 · wǒ men
we; us
们 is neutral men in 我们. It is used with personal pronouns and some words for people, rather than added to every Chinese noun.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
们 · men
a plural suffix for people and pronouns
你们 · nǐmen
you, plural
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 5 strokes · write 们
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.
米
Learn inside a word
A central crossing with small upper strokes and spreading lower strokes. Compare with 木, which lacks the small upper strokes.
米饭 · mǐ fàn
cooked rice
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 米
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.
面
Learn inside a word
A horizontal top and short sloping stroke sit above an enclosure with an upright inner shape and horizontal lines.
见面 · jiàn miàn
meet in person
面 has other uses, including in food and position words. 见面 is a whole-word expression for meeting someone.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
面包 · miànbāo
bread
面条儿 · miàntiáor
noodles
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 面
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.
名
Learn inside a word
夕 above 口. Notice the small stroke inside the upper part and the separate box below.
名字 · míng zi
name
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 名
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.
明
Learn inside a word
日 on the left and 月 on the right. Both parts remain visible in the complete character.
明天 · míng tiān
tomorrow
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
明年 · míngnián
next year
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 明
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.
哪
Learn inside a word
口 on the left and 那 on the right. Keep the extra left-hand 口 when comparing 哪 with 那.
哪里 · nǎ lǐ
where
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
哪 · nǎ
which
哪个 · nǎge
which one
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 哪
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.
那
Learn inside a word
A compact left-hand part sits beside 阝 on the right. Its right side differs from the surrounding 辶 of 这.
那里 · nà lǐ
there
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
那 · nà
that
那边 · nàbiān
over there; that side
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 那
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.