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 5 of 29. Showing the selected level's list.
当
Learn inside a word
当然 · dāngrán
of course; naturally
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 当
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.
灯
Learn inside a word
灯 · dēng
lamp; light
红绿灯 · hóng-lǜdēng
traffic lights
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 灯
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.
典
Learn inside a word
词典 · cídiǎn
dictionary
字典 · zìdiǎn
character dictionary; a dictionary organised around single Chinese characters
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 典
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.
调
Learn inside a word
空调 · kōngtiáo
air conditioner; air conditioning
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 10 strokes · write 调
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.
定
Learn inside a word
决定 · juédìng
decide; a decision
一定 · yídìng
definitely; certainly; be sure to, depending on context
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 定
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.
丢
Learn inside a word
丢 · diū
lose; misplace
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 丢
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.
冬
Learn inside a word
冬天 · dōngtiān
winter
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 5 strokes · write 冬
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.
短
Learn inside a word
短 · duǎn
short in length or duration
短裤 · duǎnkù
shorts
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 12 strokes · write 短
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.
段
Learn inside a word
段 · duàn
a classifier for sections of text or stretches of time
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 段
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.
锻
Learn inside a word
锻炼 · duànliàn
exercise; train
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 14 strokes · write 锻
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.