Chinese course / HSK1 / Characters
HSK1: 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.
246 characters · Batch 20 of 25. Showing the selected level's list.
习
Learn inside a word
A large turning hooked stroke surrounds two short inner strokes. This simplified character differs from traditional 習.
学习 · xué xí
study; learn
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 3 strokes · write 习
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.
喜
Learn inside a word
士 sits above a stacked middle with boxes and small strokes, ending in a lower 口. Compare the complete model rather than remembering only the bottom box.
喜欢 · xǐ huan
like; be fond of
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 12 strokes · write 喜
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.
系
Learn inside a word
A short upper sloping stroke sits above a 糸-shaped lower part with a central hook and small side strokes.
没关系 · méi guān xi
that's okay; it doesn't matter
系 is neutral xi in 没关系, a reassuring response to an apology or a small problem. Other words have other readings, including xì or jì.
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 7 strokes · write 系
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.
下
Learn inside a word
A horizontal top with a vertical line and a short stroke below it. Compare with 上, whose long horizontal line is at the bottom.
下面 · xià miàn
below; underneath
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
下 · xià
under; down; next, depending on the frame
下雨 · xià yǔ
rain; be raining
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 3 strokes · write 下
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.
先
Learn inside a word
A short sloping top and a crossing above 儿. Check the upper part before confusing it with 元.
先 · xiān
first; before something else, in the selected use
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
先生 · xiānsheng
Mr; a polite term for a man
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 6 strokes · write 先
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.
现
Learn inside a word
王 on the left and 见 on the right. Compare the right-hand part with a printed 见 model.
现在 · xiàn zài
now
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 现
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.
想
Learn inside a word
相 is above 心; 相 contains 木 beside 目. Compare the upper parts before recalling the lower 心.
想 · xiǎng
want to; think; miss someone, in selected uses
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 13 strokes · write 想
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.
小
Learn inside a word
A central vertical hook with a small stroke on either side. It is not a smaller drawing of 大.
小 · xiǎo
small
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
小时 · xiǎoshí
hour, as a unit of duration
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 3 strokes · write 小
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.
校
Learn inside a word
木 on the left and 交 on the right. Compare its right-hand crossed strokes with the 几 in 机.
学校 · xué xiào
school
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 10 strokes · write 校
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.
些
Learn inside a word
此 above 二. Notice the two lower horizontal lines and keep the separate upper part when recalling the shape.
一些 · yì xiē
some; a few
Practise this character in its guided group. The guided sequence introduces selected useful words across levels.
些 · xiē
some; a small unspecified amount
哪些 · nǎxiē
which ones
These are whole-word readings and selected meanings. A character can have another reading or function in another word.
Learn the 8 strokes · write 些
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.