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 21 of 25. Showing the selected level's list.
写
Learn inside a word
A covering 冖 is above 与. Compare the top with the dotted roof 宀 in 字.
写字 · xiě zì
write characters
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
写 · xiě
write
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 5 strokes · write 写
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.
谢
Learn inside a word
讠 on the left and 射 on the right. The right side includes 身 and 寸.
谢谢 · xiè xie
thank you
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 12 strokes · write 谢
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.
新
Learn inside a word
A complex left part with a 木-like lower section stands beside 斤 on the right. Compare the right part with 听.
新 · xīn
new
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 13 strokes · write 新
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.
星
Learn inside a word
日 above 生. Compare the lower 生 with the 十 below 日 in 早.
星期 · xīng qī
week; part of weekday names
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
星期日 · xīngqīrì
Sunday
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 星
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.
兴
Learn inside a word
Three small upper strokes sit above a horizontal line and two separated lower strokes.
高兴 · gāo xìng
happy; pleased
兴 is xìng in 高兴. Some other words use xīng.
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 兴
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.
休
Learn inside a word
亻 on the left and 木 on the right. Compare the right-hand 木 with 本; do not add 本's extra short lower stroke.
休息 · xiū xi
rest; take a break
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 休
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.
学
Learn inside a word
Three small top strokes, a covering part, and 子 below. Its top is different from the top of 字.
学生 · xué sheng
student
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
学 · xué
learn; study
大学 · dàxué
university
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 学
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.
雪
Learn inside a word
雨 above a 彐-shaped lower part. Keep the added lower part when distinguishing 雪 from 雨 alone.
下雪 · xià xuě
snow; be snowing
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
雪 · xuě
snow
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 11 strokes · write 雪
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.
样
Learn inside a word
木 on the left and 羊 on the right. Compare the right part with the 不 in 杯.
怎么样 · zěn me yàng
how; how is it; what is it like
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 10 strokes · write 样
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.
要
Learn inside a word
覀 sits above 女. Keep the upper part when comparing this shape with 女 alone.
要 · yào
want; need, in selected everyday uses
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
不要 · búyào
do not; do not want
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 要
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.