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.

jiā

The Chinese character 家 (jiā) means 'home'—a fo

sān

The Chinese character 三 (sān) means 'three' — a

shí

The Chinese character 十 (shí) means 'ten'—a fou

xué

The Chinese character 学 (xué) means 'to learn'

hòu

The Chinese character 后 (hòu) means 'after', 'be

miàn

面 means 'face' — but in Chinese, that single wor

shuō

The Chinese character 说 (shuō) means 'to speak,

The Chinese character 子 (zǐ) means 'son' — a fo

xià

The Chinese character 下 (xià) means 'below', 'do

néng

The Chinese character 能 (néng) means 'can' — ex

gōng

The Chinese character 工 (gōng) means 'work' — a

nián

The Chinese character 年 (nián) means 'year'—a c

huì

The Chinese character 会 (huì) means 'can; to hav

duì

The Chinese character 对 (duì) means 'right' or '

fēn

Master 分 (fēn/fèn): the 4-stroke HSK 1 characte

chū

The Chinese character 出 (chū) means 'to go out;

zuò

作 (zuò) means 'to do; to make; to write; to comp

shēng

The Chinese character 生 (shēng) means 'to grow;

men

The Chinese character 们 (men) is a vital HSK Leve

lái

The Chinese character 来 (lái) means 'to come'—a

shí

The Chinese character 时 (shí) means 'time; when;

The Chinese character 他 (tā) means 'he; him; his

The Chinese character 我 (wǒ) means 'I; me; my'—

guó

The Chinese character 国 (guó) means 'country; na