Stroke Order & Writing Characters

Stroke order follows intuitive principles like top to bottom, left to right, and horizontal before vertical. These rules help maintain the character's balance and make it easier to learn related characters.

Chinese characters are built from a handful of basic strokes such as 横 héng 横 (horizontal), 竖 shù 竖 (vertical), 撇 piě 撇 (left-falling), 捺 nà 捺 (right-falling), and 点 diǎn 点 (dot). Mastering these strokes is key to writing clean characters.

Radicals are common components that often hint at meaning or pronunciation. Learning radicals speeds up character memorization and helps you look up unfamiliar characters.

Start with simple characters that use basic strokes and radicals. Practice writing them slowly in the correct stroke order until the motions feel natural.

Use squared paper to guide proportions and repeat each character multiple times. Say the pronunciation aloud to reinforce memory. Focus on accuracy first, then speed will come naturally.

Master basic stroke order rules, learn fundamental strokes and radicals, and practice writing simple characters slowly and deliberately. Consistent practice turns writing into an effortless skill.