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 6 of 25. Showing the selected level's list.
哥
Learn inside a word
Notice two similar 可-shaped parts, one above the other. Keep the lower vertical hook in the full shape.
哥哥 · gē ge
older brother
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 哥
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.
歌
Learn inside a word
哥 on the left and 欠 on the right. Keep the right part when distinguishing 歌 from 哥.
歌 · gē
song
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 14 strokes · write 歌
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.
个
Learn inside a word
A 人-like top with a vertical stroke below the meeting point. Keep this lower stroke distinct from 人 alone.
一个 · yí ge
one, with the general classifier 个
个 is neutral ge here. 一 normally changes to yí in this counting phrase; its citation reading is yī.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
个 · gè
a common classifier
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 3 strokes · write 个
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.
给
Learn inside a word
纟 on the left and 合 on the right. The right part has a 人-like top over a horizontal stroke and 口.
给 · gěi
give; to or for someone in selected sentence patterns
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 9 strokes · write 给
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.
工
Learn inside a word
A vertical line joins the centres of two horizontal lines. Unlike 土, it does not continue below the lower line.
工作 · gōng zuò
work; job
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 3 strokes · write 工
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.
公
Learn inside a word
八 above 厶. Compare the lower turning part with the 刀 below 八 in 分.
公司 · gōng sī
company
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 4 strokes · write 公
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.
狗
Learn inside a word
犭 on the left and 句 on the right. Notice the 口 inside the right-hand wrapping part.
狗 · gǒu
dog
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 狗
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.
关
Learn inside a word
Two small upper strokes sit above a 天-like lower shape. Keep the small upper strokes when distinguishing 关 from 天.
关门 · guān mén
close the door
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
没关系 · méi guānxi
it is all right; never mind
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 关
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.
贵
Learn inside a word
An upper boxed crossing and horizontal line sit above 贝. Check the lower 贝 rather than reading the top alone.
贵 · guì
expensive
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 9 strokes · write 贵
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.
国
Learn inside a word
An outer enclosure surrounds 玉, which has a small dot as well as crossing lines. Check the inside rather than mistaking it for empty 口.
中国 · zhōng guó
China
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
国 · guó
country, often inside a word or name
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 国
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.