To write Chinese characters correctly, it’s necessary to know how to write all the character strokes in the right manner. Here are the list of Chinese character strokes with both Chinese names and English explanation.
Strokes refer to the various uninterrupted dots and lines that constitute Chinese characters. They are the smallest structural units of Chinese characters. Totally, in Chinese there are 32 strokes for printed regular script (印刷楷体).
List of Chinese character strokes
| Stroke | Chinese name | Pronunciation | English Explanation | Examples |
丶 |
点 | diǎn |
dot (written from top to bottom, left to right) |
冰杰京 |
一 |
横 | héng |
horizontal(written from left to right) |
三十事 |
乛 |
横钩 | héng gōu |
horizontal + hook |
买卖皮 |
フ |
横撇 | héng piě |
horizontal + left-falling |
又水福 |
? |
横折 | héng zhé |
horizontal + turn |
口录田 |
㇅ |
横折折 | héng zhé zhé |
horizontal + turn + turn |
凹 |
㇊ |
横折提 | héng zhé tí |
horizontal + turn + rising |
说话计 |
㇍ |
横折弯 | héng zhé wān |
horizontal + turn + curve |
朵船沿 |
? |
横折钩 | héng zhé gōu |
horizontal + turn + hook |
刀门闭 |
㇈ |
横折弯钩 | héng zhé wān gōu |
horizontal + turn + curved hook |
九几吃 |
㇌ |
横撇弯钩 | héng piē wān gōu |
horizontal + left-falling + curved hook |
那阳队 |
㇋ |
横折折撇 | héng zhé zhé
piě |
horizontal + turn + turn + left-falling |
及建级 |
㇎ |
横折折折 | héng zhé zhé zhé |
horizontal + turn + turn +turn |
凸 |
ㄋ |
横折折折钩 | héng zhé zhé zhé gōu |
horizontal + turn + turn + turn + hook |
乃孕扔 |
⺄ |
横斜钩 |
héng xié gōu |
horizontal + slanted hook |
风飞气 |
丨 |
竖 |
shù |
vertical (written from top to bottom) | 中川十 |
? |
竖提 | shù tí |
vertical + rising |
良比切 |
? |
竖折 | shù zhé |
vertical + turn |
出山巨 |
㇄ |
竖弯 | shù wān |
vertical + curve |
四西酉 |
亅 |
竖钩 | shù gōu |
vertical + hook |
小手术 |
乚 |
竖弯钩 | shù wān gōu |
vertical + curve + hook |
七已孔 |
ㄣ |
竖折撇 | shù zhé piě |
vertical + turn + left-falling |
专传转 |
? |
竖折折 | shù zhé zhé |
vertical + turn + turn |
鼎 |
㇉ |
竖折折钩 | shù zhé zhé gōu |
vertical + turn + hook |
鸟弟弯 |
丿 |
撇 |
piě |
left-falling (falling leftwards with slight curve) |
你人才 |
? |
撇点 |
piě diǎn |
left-falling + dot |
女好奶 |
? |
撇折 |
piě zhé |
left-falling + turn |
去公眩 |
㇏乀 |
捺 |
right-falling (falling rightwards fattening at the bottom) |
人入建 | |
㇀ |
提 |
rising (flick up and rightwards) |
冰冷打 | |
㇁ |
弯钩 | curved hook | 家狐子 | |
㇂ |
斜钩 |
slanted hook |
我武战 | |
㇃ |
卧钩 |
lying hook |
心必蜜 |
Check out the list of Chinese character strokes and how to write every stroke correctly on our YouTube video.
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