州(zhōu): prefecture
HSK 7-96 strokes
prefecture
Stroke order animation
Character information
- Pinyin
- zhōu
- Meaning
- prefecture; (old) province; (old) administrative division; state (e.g. of US); oblast (Russia); canton (Switzerland)
- Strokes
- 6
- HSK level
- HSK 7-9
- Traditional
- Same
Origin & structure
Where 州 comes from and how its parts fit together.
Ideograph
⿻川？Islands within a river 川
A combination of parts whose meanings add up to the whole.
Made of
Parts are arranged overlaid.
How to write 州 step by step
6 strokes — each frame adds one stroke, shown in dark ink over the lighter ones.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Words with 州
Common words using 州 — tap any character to open its stroke-order page.
Related characters
Ready to master 州?
Trace 州 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.