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 24 of 29. Showing the selected level's list.
像
Learn inside a word
像 · xiàng
be like; resemble
好像 · hǎoxiàng
seem; appear to
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 13 strokes · write 像
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.
鞋
Learn inside a word
鞋 · xié
shoe; shoes
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 15 strokes · write 鞋
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.
心
Learn inside a word
担心 · dānxīn
worry; be worried about
放心 · fàngxīn
feel reassured; stop worrying
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 4 strokes · write 心
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.
信
Learn inside a word
信 · xìn
letter; written correspondence
相信 · xiāngxìn
believe; trust
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 信
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.
行
Learn inside a word
行 · xíng
be acceptable; work; be all right, pronounced xíng
不行 · bùxíng
not work; not be acceptable or possible
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 行
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.
熊
Learn inside a word
大熊猫 · dàxióngmāo
giant panda
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 14 strokes · write 熊
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.
须
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 9 strokes · write 须
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.
需
Learn inside a word
需要 · xūyào
need; require
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 14 strokes · write 需
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.
选
Learn inside a word
选 · xuǎn
choose; pick
选择 · xuǎnzé
choose; a choice
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 选
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.
牙
Learn inside a word
牙 · yá
tooth; teeth
牙刷 · yáshuā
toothbrush
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 4 strokes · write 牙
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.