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 24 of 25. Showing the selected level's list.
这
Learn inside a word
文 combines with the surrounding movement part 辶. Check that the inner part is 文 rather than the 力 in 边.
这里 · zhè lǐ
here
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
这 · zhè
this
这边 · zhèbiān
this side; over here
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 7 strokes · write 这
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.
真
Learn inside a word
十 above an upright enclosed middle and two separated lower strokes. Look for the inner horizontal lines in the middle part.
真好 · zhēn hǎo
really good
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
真 · zhēn
really; genuine, depending on context
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 10 strokes · write 真
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.
正
Learn inside a word
A horizontal top sits above 止. Compare the lower upright arrangement with 上.
正在 · zhèng zài
currently doing something; in the process of
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 正
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.
知
Learn inside a word
矢 on the left and 口 on the right. Compare its left part with the 矢 inside 医.
知道 · zhī dào
know information; know that something is so
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 知
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.
只
Learn inside a word
口 above two separated lower strokes. Compare with 六, whose upper part is a dot and horizontal line.
一只猫 · yì zhī māo
one cat
只 is zhī as a classifier here. It is zhǐ when it means only.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
只 · zhī
a classifier for certain animals, pronounced zhī
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 5 strokes · write 只
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.
中
Learn inside a word
The central vertical stroke passes through the box, extending above and below it.
中文 · zhōng wén
Chinese, especially the written language
中 is zhōng in 中文. Other words can use a different reading; learn the whole word.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
中国 · Zhōngguó
China
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 4 strokes · write 中
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.
钟
Learn inside a word
钅 on the left and 中 on the right. Compare its left part with the 木 in 机.
三点钟 · sān diǎn zhōng
three o'clock
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
分钟 · fēnzhōng
minute, as a unit of duration
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 钟
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.
住
Learn inside a word
亻 on the left and 主 on the right. 主 has a dot above a 王-like crossing.
住 · zhù
live; stay, in the selected uses
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 住
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.
桌
Learn inside a word
A small 卜-shaped top is above 日 and 木. Compare the lower 木 with the one in 床.
桌子 · zhuō zi
table; desk
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 桌
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.
子
Learn inside a word
An upper turning stroke, central vertical hook, and horizontal stroke. Compare this complete shape with 子 at the bottom of 字.
孩子 · hái zi
child
子 is neutral zi in 孩子, even though the character's citation reading is zǐ.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
包子 · bāozi
a steamed bun with filling
杯子 · bēizi
a cup; a glass
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 3 strokes · write 子
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.