Browse Chinese Characters — Learn Chinese Through Stories

Every character has an origin. Discover the pictographs, myths, and history behind each Chinese character — with pinyin, stroke order, HSK level, and audio pronunciation.

yòu

The Chinese character 又 (yòu), a 2-stroke HSK Le

cān

What does 参 mean? Pronounced cān, HSK level 3, t

The Chinese character 卡 (kǎ/qiǎ) means 'to stop

nán

The Chinese character 南 (nán) means 'south'—a f

bàn

What does 半 mean? Pronounced bàn, HSK level 3, t

bāo

How do you say 'to cover' in Chinese? It's 包 (bā

努 (nǔ) means 'to exert' — a culturally rich HSK

gāng

刚 means 'hard' — but also 'just now' — revealin

Master 刻 (kè), HSK level 3 — the Chinese word f

shuā

Explore the meaning of 刷 (shuā): 'a brush' in Ch

guā

Discover 刮 (HSK 3): the Chinese character for 'to

bīng

6-stroke character 冰 (bīng) carries the meaning

dōng

冬 means 'winter' — a foundational HSK 3 characte

mào

Discover 冒 (HSK 3): the Chinese character for 'to

diǎn

The Chinese character 典 (diǎn) means 'canon' —

yuán

Learning Chinese? 元 (yuán) is one of the essenti

xiàng

Explore the meaning of 像 (xiàng): 'to resemble'

sǎn

The Chinese character 伞 (sǎn) means 'umbrella'

jiàn

How do you say 'healthy' in Chinese? It's 健 (jià

jiǎ

Learning Chinese? 假 (jiǎ) is one of the essentia

jiè

Master 借 (jiè), HSK level 3 — the Chinese word

xìn

The Chinese character 信 (xìn) means 'letter' —

wèi

位 • wèi • 'position' — HSK 3 Chinese characte

gān

What does 干 mean? Pronounced gān, HSK level 3, t

乎 is a HSK 3 Chinese character pronounced hū. It