字(zì)

HSK 16 strokes

letter

Print a 字 worksheet PDFPractice writing 字

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
zì
Meaning
letter; symbol; character; word; CL:个; courtesy or style name traditionally given to males aged 20 in dynastic China
Strokes
6
HSK level
HSK 1
Traditional
Same

Origin & structure

Where 字 comes from and how its parts fit together.

Ideograph⿱宀子

A child 子 in a house 宀; 子 also provides the pronunciation

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

Made of

宀mián子zǐ

Parts are arranged top to bottom.

How to write 字 step by step

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

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6

Words with 字

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

míng名zì字
HSK 1

name (of a person or thing)

Open 名字 page →
hàn汉zì字
HSK 1

Chinese character(s)

Open 汉字 page →
zì字diǎn典
HSK 2

Chinese character dictionary (containing entries for single characters, contrasted with…

Open 字典 page →
shù数zì字
HSK 2

numeral

Open 数字 page →
wén文zì字
HSK 3

character

Open 文字 page →
zì字mǔ母
HSK 4

letter (of the alphabet)

Open 字母 page →
qiān签zì字
HSK 5

to sign (one's name)

Open 签字 page →
shí识zì字
HSK 6

to learn to read

Open 识字 page →

Related characters

More HSK 1 characters

一七三上下不东两

From 字’s common words

名汉典数文母签识

Ready to master 字?

Trace 字 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.

Practice 字 onlineGenerate worksheet PDFBrowse all of HSK 1 →