(dài)

HSK 35 strokes

to be a substitute for

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
dài
Meaning
to be a substitute for; to act on behalf of; to replace; to substitute; generation; dynasty; age; period; (historical) era; (geological) eon
Strokes
5
HSK level
HSK 3
Traditional
Same

Origin & structure

Where comes from and how its parts fit together.

Ideograph⿰亻弋

A man 亻 caught 弋 by the passing of time

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

Made of

Parts are arranged left to right.

How to write step by step

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

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Words with

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

dài
HSK 4

to replace; to take the place of

Open 代替 page →
jiāodài
HSK 5

to transfer (duties to sb else)

Open 交代 page →
dài
HSK 6

generation

Open 一代 page →
HSK 7-9

the next generation

Open 下一代 page →
shìdài
HSK 7-9

for many generations

Open 世代 page →
sāndài

three generations of a family; the three earliest dynasties (Xia, Shang and…

Open 三代 page →
shàngdài

previous generation

Open 上代 page →

Related characters

Ready to master 代?

Trace 代 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.