(sān)

HSK 13 strokes

surname San

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
sān
Meaning
surname San
Strokes
3
HSK level
HSK 1
Traditional
Same

Origin & structure

Where comes from and how its parts fit together.

Ideograph⿱一二

Three  parallel lines; compare 一 (one) and 二 (two)

A combination of parts whose meanings add up to the whole.

Made of

Parts are arranged top to bottom.

How to write step by step

3 strokes — each frame adds one stroke, shown in dark ink over the lighter ones.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

Words with

Common words using — tap any character to open its stroke-order page.

sān

pseudoginseng (Panax pseudoginseng), hemostatic herb

Open 三七 page →
sān

the three no's (abbreviated catchphrase)

Open 三不 page →
sānshì

the Third (of numbered kings)

Open 三世 page →

(idiom) (of literature or music) concise yet deeply evocative; inviting repeated savoring

Open 一唱三叹 page →

a single day apart seems like three seasons (idiom)

Open 一日三秋 page →

to have three meals a day

Open 一日三餐 page →

lit. one strong beat and three weak beats in a measure of music (four beats in the bar)…

Open 一板三眼 page →

Related characters

Ready to master 三?

Trace 三 stroke by stroke in the online practice tool, or turn it into a printable worksheet PDF with Tianzige practice grids, pinyin, and stroke-order breakdowns.