Chinese course / HSK3 / Characters
HSK3: 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.
284 characters · Batch 2 of 29. Showing the selected level's list.
北
Learn inside a word
北 · běi
north
北方 · běifāng
the north; a northern region
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 5 strokes · write 北
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.
被
Learn inside a word
被 · bèi
bèi; introduces the agent in a passive sentence
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 10 strokes · write 被
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.
必
Learn inside a word
必须 · bìxū
must; be required to
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 5 strokes · write 必
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.
变
Learn inside a word
变 · biàn
change; become different
变成 · biànchéng
turn into; become
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 变
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.
遍
Learn inside a word
遍 · biàn
a classifier for a complete run-through of an action
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 12 strokes · write 遍
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.
宾
Learn inside a word
宾馆 · bīnguǎn
hotel; guesthouse
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 10 strokes · write 宾
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.
冰
Learn inside a word
冰 · bīng
ice
冰箱 · bīngxiāng
refrigerator; fridge
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 冰
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.
才
Learn inside a word
才 · cái
only then; not until, often suggesting later than expected
刚才 · gāngcái
just now; a short time ago
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 3 strokes · write 才
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.
参
Learn inside a word
参加 · cānjiā
take part in; attend an activity
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 参
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.
草
Learn inside a word
草 · cǎo
grass
草地 · cǎodì
grass-covered ground; lawn
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 草
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.