Chinese course / Character learning
Start recognising Chinese characters
Start with five characters, then stop and revisit them tomorrow. Read the useful word aloud, notice one detail in its shape, and cover the help before trying again. You can keep learning spoken Chinese while character recognition develops.
New to pinyin? First try sounds and pinyin. The character foundations lesson explains characters, words and components.
How to practise without rushing
- Look at one character and its useful word. Use the help as often as you need today.
- Close the help. Try saying the word and recalling its meaning. If it is new, reopen the model and try again later.
- Tomorrow, mix yesterday's five with a few new ones. Spend extra time on shapes you confuse.
- For handwriting, open the stroke panel and follow the model. Copy once carefully on paper, then cover it and write once from memory. Compare the shape and proportions; repeated copying alone does not check recall.
Recognition, pronunciation, typing and handwriting are separate skills. Practise the one you need. Shape cues help you distinguish characters; stroke panels show how to form them. A component clue is not a guaranteed meaning or reading.
This sequence is arranged for learning, not by syllabus level. It teaches 375 simplified characters in useful words, including the shared HSK 1–2 handwriting targets. The readings below apply to those words; some characters have other readings. Use the stroke panels when handwriting is your goal.
Page 13 of 13. Start with one five-character group today. Use the words here first; linked word examples may introduce language you have not studied yet.
73. Weather and enjoying nature
Distinguish 日 and 月 beside different left-hand parts, then read two animal words.
晴
Learn the shape and a useful word
日 on the left and 青 on the right. Compare with 睛, which has 目 on the left, and 情, which has 忄.
晴天 · qíng tiān
sunny day; clear weather
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 12 strokes · write 晴
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.
阴
Learn the shape and a useful word
阝 on the left and 月 on the right. Compare the left side with the 日 in 明.
阴天 · yīn tiān
cloudy day; overcast weather
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 6 strokes · write 阴
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.
鸟
Learn the shape and a useful word
A short sloping top and turning enclosure sit above a hooked lower stroke and horizontal line. Notice the small inner dot.
鸟 · niǎo
bird
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 5 strokes · write 鸟
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.
鱼
Learn the shape and a useful word
A short turning top sits above 田 and a lower horizontal line. Compare the enclosed middle with the 田 in 思.
鱼 · yú
fish
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 8 strokes · write 鱼
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.
乐
Learn the shape and a useful word
An upper sloping and turning part joins a central hook with two small lower side strokes. Compare the whole shape with 东.
快乐 · kuài lè
happy; happiness
乐 is lè in 快乐. It is yuè in 音乐, music.
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 5 strokes · write 乐
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.
Try with the help closed: What left parts distinguish 晴, 睛 and 情? Read 晴天 and 阴天.
Check and learn
晴 has 日, 睛 has 目, and 情 has 忄. 晴天 qíng tiān means sunny day; 阴天 yīn tiān means cloudy day. 快乐 kuài lè means happy; 鸟 niǎo and 鱼 yú name a bird and a fish.
74. Clothes and everyday situations
Read common expressions and keep their complete written words distinct.
坏
Learn the shape and a useful word
土 on the left and 不 on the right. Compare its right part with the 夬 in 块.
坏了 · huài le
broken; no longer working, in the selected use
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 7 strokes · write 坏
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.
裤
Learn the shape and a useful word
衤 on the left and 库 on the right. 库 has 广 above 车.
裤子 · kù zi
trousers; pants
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 12 strokes · write 裤
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.
经
Learn the shape and a useful word
纟 on the left and a compact right-hand part with a turning upper stroke and 工 below. Compare the lower right part with 工 alone.
已经 · yǐ jīng
already
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 8 strokes · write 经
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.
交
Learn the shape and a useful word
A dot and horizontal top sit above separated upper strokes and crossing lower strokes. Compare with 文 by noticing the added middle strokes.
交给 · jiāo gěi
hand over to; give to
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 6 strokes · write 交
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.
旁
Learn the shape and a useful word
Small top strokes and a covering part sit above 方. Compare its lower 方 with the one below 户 in 房.
旁边 · páng biān
beside; next to
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 10 strokes · write 旁
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.
Try with the help closed: Read 已经 and 旁边. Which expression means already? Which character has 衤 beside 库?
Check and learn
已经 yǐ jīng means already; 旁边 páng biān means beside. 裤 has 衤 beside 库 and appears in 裤子 kù zi, trousers. 交给 jiāo gěi means hand over to; 坏了 huài le can mean broken.
75. Hope, amounts and a useful comparison
Read a few practical expressions and recognise a component already seen in many characters.
希
Learn the shape and a useful word
A crossed upper part sits above 布. The lower part includes a crossing beside 巾.
希望 · xī wàng
hope; wish
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 7 strokes · write 希
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.
万
Learn the shape and a useful word
A horizontal top sits above a turning hooked stroke crossed by a longer sloping stroke. Compare its three-stroke shape with 方.
一万 · yí wàn
ten thousand
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 3 strokes · write 万
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.
位
Learn the shape and a useful word
亻 on the left and 立 on the right. Compare the right part with the 主 in 住.
一位 · yí wèi
one person, with the polite classifier 位
位 is often used respectfully when counting people. It does not replace 个 for every kind of thing.
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 7 strokes · write 位
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.
最
Learn the shape and a useful word
日 above 取. The lower part has 耳 on the left and 又 on the right.
最好 · zuì hǎo
best; it would be best to, according to the sentence
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 12 strokes · write 最
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.
目
Learn the shape and a useful word
An upright enclosure contains two inner horizontal lines. Compare with 日, which has only one inner line, and find the narrowed 目 on the left of 眼.
题目 · tí mù
question; exercise question, in the selected use
This supporting character is taught here because its shape appears in characters such as 眼 and 睛. It is listed for standalone recognition at a later syllabus level.
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 5 strokes · write 目
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.
Try with the help closed: Read 一万, 希望 and 最好. What distinguishes the inside of 目 from 日?
Check and learn
一万 yí wàn means ten thousand; 希望 xī wàng means hope; 最好 zuì hǎo means best or it would be best to, according to context. 目 has two inner horizontal lines; 日 has one. 题目 tí mù can name an exercise question.
Choose your next character list
Use the level lists alongside lessons you understand. The lists keep recognition and handwriting requirements separate. A listed character is a study target, rather than evidence of mastery.
HSK 1 charactersHSK 2 charactersHSK 3 charactersHSK 4 charactersHSK 5 charactersHSK 6 characters
Stroke model credits
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. Renderer: MIT license.