Chinese course / HSK4 / Characters
HSK4: 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.
441 characters · Batch 29 of 45. Showing the selected level's list.
失
Learn inside a word
失败 · shībài
fail; failure to achieve a goal
失去 · shīqù
lose; no longer have something
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 5 strokes · write 失
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.
拾
Learn inside a word
收拾 · shōushi
tidy up; put things in order
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 拾
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.
食
Learn inside a word
零食 · língshí
snack food; food eaten between meals
美食 · měishí
delicious food; food enjoyed for its quality or local character
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 食
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.
使
Learn inside a word
使 · shǐ
make; cause someone or something to have a result
即使 · jíshǐ
even if; followed by 也 to show that the result still holds
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 使
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.
氏
Learn inside a word
摄氏度 · shèshìdù
degree Celsius; a unit of temperature
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 4 strokes · write 氏
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.
示
Learn inside a word
表示 · biǎoshì
express; indicate; show what someone means or feels
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 5 strokes · write 示
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.
式
Learn inside a word
方式 · fāngshì
way; manner; method of doing something
正式 · zhèngshì
formal; official; properly begun or established
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 式
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.
柿
Learn inside a word
西红柿 · xīhóngshì
tomato
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 9 strokes · write 柿
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.
释
Learn inside a word
解释 · jiěshì
explain; make something clear
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 12 strokes · write 释
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.
匙
Learn inside a word
钥匙 · yàoshi
key; an object that opens a lock
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 11 strokes · write 匙
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.