Basic strokes of Chinese characters Example Way to Write ‘The dot is written from top to bottom-right, as in the first stroke = | The horizontal stoke is written from left to right. Fr [Tes vertial stoke is witen fom top dommwandt te bottom, as in the second stroke of "A". Fy The doewanet stke is writen form sep to bottom-left, as in the second stroke of "J". ‘The downward-right stroke is written from top to boulomiight, as in the second sttoke of “A” B |The pred stoke is written from bottom-left_ to toprtight, as in the fourth stroke of “#8” The left-right structure (1) a, Equal left-right (the numbers indicate the order of writing the components) 1/2) AR Small left-big right o. Big left-small right W2}3e fib Ge 1b} AB 3) a = | The left-right structure 2 Equal left-middle-right | at oe 1/2) a. Equal top-bottom i 3 2 b. Big top-small bottom 1c. Small top-big bottom T 2 R I 2) 3 48 d. Equal top-middle-bottom T [=e Es) The enclosure structure (1) a. Four-side enclosure [| # # €. Top-left enclosure Oo 2 & ” one ne a oats bo eight ey Ei n ‘strength ers Ge TF man dear d, Top-left-bottom enclosure ¢. Top-right enclosure ol 7 4 4 stroke: —— 2 strokesZays sS ma horse 3 strokes & & a fs ae Cit 4 ) no female 3 strokes WY Note: “" is written as “ 4" on the left side of a character, a Ee a Paty te wit five 4 strokes x cs eee t t mo ‘wood 4 strokes Note: “A” is written as “#” on the left side of a character. x Pal # x 4 strokes su uf Note; “X” is written as “>” on the bottom of a character. Al eal ding nail 2strokes A Ta) dio knife 2 strokes Note: “7” is written as “ ||” on the right side of a character, 5 < se you again 2 strokes Note: “X” was originally a pictograph of “the right hand”, KR =a do big 3 strokes 123 1 kéu mouth 3 strokes