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 2 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.
7. More numbers, different shapes
Read familiar quantities while distinguishing bends, hooks and enclosures.
八
Learn the shape and a useful word
Two separated sloping strokes. Unlike 人, they do not meet at the top.
八 · bā
eight
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 2 strokes · write 八
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.
九
Learn the shape and a useful word
A sloping stroke crosses a bent stroke with a hook. Compare its bend with the angled shape of 七.
九 · jiǔ
nine
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 2 strokes · write 九
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.
七
Learn the shape and a useful word
A horizontal stroke crossed by a bent stroke that turns to the right below it. It differs from the straight crossing of 十.
七 · qī
seven
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 2 strokes · write 七
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.
四
Learn the shape and a useful word
An outer enclosure with two separate shapes inside. Do not leave the enclosure empty like 口.
四 · sì
four
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 5 strokes · write 四
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.
六
Learn the shape and a useful word
A dot and horizontal line above two separate lower strokes. Compare its lower part with 八.
六 · liù
six
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 4 strokes · write 六
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: Which number has an enclosure, 四 or 六? Which has two separated sloping strokes, 八 or 人?
Check and learn
四 sì has an enclosure. 八 bā has two separated sloping strokes; 人 rén has strokes that meet. Read 七八九 qī bā jiǔ as seven, eight, nine.
8. Quantities and questions
Keep a character's shape separate from the counting pattern it belongs to.
五
Learn the shape and a useful word
Look at the top and bottom horizontal lines and the turning part between them. Do not read it as 三 by counting visible horizontal lines.
五 · wǔ
five
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 4 strokes · write 五
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.
百
Learn the shape and a useful word
A horizontal top above 白, whose enclosed part contains an inner line. Contrast the whole character with 日.
百 · bǎi
hundred
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 6 strokes · write 百
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.
半
Learn the shape and a useful word
Two small upper strokes above horizontal lines crossed by a long central vertical stroke.
半年 · bàn nián
half a year
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 5 strokes · write 半
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.
两
Learn the shape and a useful word
A top horizontal line and enclosing sides around two inner 人-like shapes. Compare its inside with 四.
两个 · liǎng ge
two, before the general classifier 个
两个 is the usual way to count two people or items with 个. 二 remains important in numbers such as 二十, twenty.
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 7 strokes · write 两
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.
几
Learn the shape and a useful word
A left sloping stroke and a tall bent hooked stroke on the right. The middle is open; compare with 九.
几个 · jǐ ge
how many, with the general classifier 个
几 is jǐ in this question. Learn a different reading from its own word rather than applying this one everywhere.
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 2 strokes · write 几
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 两个 and 几个. Which phrase asks for the number, and which gives a number?
Check and learn
几个 jǐ ge asks how many. 两个 liǎng ge gives the number two with 个. 半年 bàn nián means half a year.
9. Family words
Notice repeated parts while learning the pronunciation of the whole family word.
爸
Learn the shape and a useful word
父 is above 巴. In 爸爸 the same complete character is written twice.
爸爸 · bà ba
dad; father
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 8 strokes · write 爸
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.
妈
Learn the shape and a useful word
女 is on the left and 马 on the right. Compare 女 here with its shape in 好 and 她.
妈妈 · mā ma
mum; mother
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 6 strokes · write 妈
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.
哥
Learn the shape and a useful word
Notice two similar 可-shaped parts, one above the other. Keep the lower vertical hook in the full shape.
哥哥 · gē ge
older brother
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 10 strokes · write 哥
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.
姐
Learn the shape and a useful word
女 is on the left and 且, an upright enclosed shape with horizontal lines, on the right. Compare the right side with 妈.
姐姐 · jiě jie
older sister
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 8 strokes · write 姐
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.
儿
Learn the shape and a useful word
Two separate lower strokes, with a hook on the right-hand stroke. Compare with 八, whose right stroke does not hook upward.
儿子 · ér zi
son
儿 is a separate ér syllable in 儿子. In some other words an 儿 ending joins the preceding syllable, as in 一会儿 yí huìr.
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 2 strokes · write 儿
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: Which two family characters here share 女 on the left? Read their complete words.
Check and learn
妈 and 姐 share 女 on the left. 妈妈 mā ma means mum; 姐姐 jiě jie means older sister. The second syllables in these everyday words are neutral.
10. People and the words around them
Distinguish a person's name, a group ending and a counting word.
马
Learn the shape and a useful word
A compact simplified shape with a turning upper stroke, a lower hook and a low horizontal line. Look for its narrower form on the right of 妈.
马 · mǎ
horse
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 3 strokes · write 马
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.
们
Learn the shape and a useful word
亻 on the left and 门 on the right. Compare with 他 and 你 by checking the right-hand part.
我们 · wǒ men
we; us
们 is neutral men in 我们. It is used with personal pronouns and some words for people, rather than added to every Chinese noun.
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 5 strokes · write 们
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.
个
Learn the shape and a useful word
A 人-like top with a vertical stroke below the meeting point. Keep this lower stroke distinct from 人 alone.
一个 · yí ge
one, with the general classifier 个
个 is neutral ge here. 一 normally changes to yí in this counting phrase; its citation reading is yī.
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 3 strokes · write 个
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.
男
Learn the shape and a useful word
田 above 力. The top enclosure has a crossing inside, unlike 日.
男生 · nán shēng
male student; boy
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 7 strokes · write 男
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.
名
Learn the shape and a useful word
夕 above 口. Notice the small stroke inside the upper part and the separate box below.
名字 · míng zi
name
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 6 strokes · write 名
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: Which word means we, 我们 or 名字? What extra stroke distinguishes 个 from 人?
Check and learn
我们 wǒ men means we; 名字 míng zi means name. 个 has a vertical stroke below its 人-like top. 男生 nán shēng means male student or boy.
11. Language and country
Read whole words while noticing a repeated left-hand part.
国
Learn the shape and a useful word
An outer enclosure surrounds 玉, which has a small dot as well as crossing lines. Check the inside rather than mistaking it for empty 口.
中国 · zhōng guó
China
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 8 strokes · write 国
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.
汉
Learn the shape and a useful word
Three small water-side strokes 氵 on the left, with 又 on the right. Keep the two sides distinct.
汉字 · hàn zì
Chinese character; Chinese characters
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 5 strokes · write 汉
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.
文
Learn the shape and a useful word
A dot and horizontal line sit above crossing lower strokes. Compare the crossing with the separated lower strokes of 六.
中文 · zhōng wén
Chinese, especially the written language
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 4 strokes · write 文
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.
语
Learn the shape and a useful word
讠 on the left, with 吾 on the right. The right side includes 五 above 口.
汉语 · hàn yǔ
Chinese language
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 9 strokes · write 语
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.
说
Learn the shape and a useful word
讠 on the left, with 兑 on the right. Compare its right-hand shape with 语 rather than guessing from 讠 alone.
说 · shuō
speak; say
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 9 strokes · write 说
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: Which two characters share 讠 on the left? Read 中国 and 汉语 without the help.
Check and learn
语 and 说 share 讠. 中国 zhōng guó means China; 汉语 hàn yǔ means Chinese language. The shared part helps you notice the shape, but it does not supply a complete word meaning or reading.
12. Small words in a question
Recognise characters that help build a sentence, not only names of things.
叫
Learn the shape and a useful word
口 is on the left and a two-stroke upright part is on the right. Compare the right side with the more complex right side of 吗.
叫 · jiào
be called; call
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 5 strokes · write 叫
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.
吗
Learn the shape and a useful word
口 on the left and 马 on the right. Compare with 妈, which has 女 instead of 口 on the left.
吗 · ma
question particle for many yes-or-no questions
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 6 strokes · write 吗
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.
么
Learn the shape and a useful word
A sloping top stroke above the small turning shape 厶. Do not add the left-hand 亻 found in 什么's first character 什.
什么 · shén me
what
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 3 strokes · write 么
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.
什
Learn the shape and a useful word
亻 on the left and 十 on the right. Learn this shape as part of 什么.
什么 · shén me
what
什 is shén in 什么. This word reading is more useful here than guessing a sound from 十.
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 4 strokes · write 什
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.
的
Learn the shape and a useful word
白 on the left and 勺 on the right. Check both the inner line in 白 and the small inner stroke in 勺.
我的 · wǒ de
my; mine, depending on what follows
的 is neutral de in this possessive phrase. It has other functions and readings in other words.
Find words with this character, examples and available audio
Learn the 8 strokes · write 的
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 你叫什么名字？ Which two characters together mean what? Which character starts 名字?
Check and learn
Nǐ jiào shén me míng zi? means “What is your name?” 什么 means what, and 名 starts 名字, name. This question uses 什么; it does not need 吗 at the end.
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.