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 3 of 29. Showing the selected level's list.
层
Learn inside a word
层 · céng
a classifier for storeys or layers
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 7 strokes · write 层
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.
查
Learn inside a word
查 · chá
look up; check
检查 · jiǎnchá
check; inspect; examine
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 查
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.
差
Learn inside a word
差 · chà
poor; not good; pronounced chà
差不多 · chàbuduō
almost; approximately; much the same
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 差
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.
尝
Learn inside a word
尝 · cháng
taste; try a small amount of food or drink
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 尝
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.
衬
Learn inside a word
衬衫 · chènshān
shirt
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 衬
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.
成
Learn inside a word
变成 · biànchéng
turn into; become
成绩 · chéngjì
result; achievement; an exam or school mark
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 成
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.
城
Learn inside a word
城市 · chéngshì
city
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 城
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.
迟
Learn inside a word
迟到 · chídào
arrive late
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 7 strokes · write 迟
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.
持
Learn inside a word
坚持 · jiānchí
persist; keep doing something
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 持
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.
初
Learn inside a word
初中 · chūzhōng
junior high school
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 7 strokes · write 初
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.