{"id":5140,"date":"2014-04-28T00:33:45","date_gmt":"2014-04-27T16:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/?p=5140"},"modified":"2018-05-26T19:38:08","modified_gmt":"2018-05-26T17:38:08","slug":"handwriting-chinese-characters-the-minimum-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/handwriting-chinese-characters-the-minimum-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Handwriting Chinese characters: The minimum requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>This article about handwriting Chinese characters is written by Harvey Dam, currently enrolled in the World Language master&#8217;s degree program at the University of Utah. He&#8217;s a prolific poster on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chinese-forums.com\">Chinese Forums<\/a> (user name <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chinese-forums.com\/index.php?\/user\/2048-hofmann\/\">Hofmann<\/a>), which is where this text was originally published as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chinese-forums.com\/index.php?\/blog\/25\/entry-567-handwriting-the-minimum-requirements-part-1\/\">a series of blog posts<\/a>. It is published here with permission of the author. I wanted to publish this article here on Hacking Chinese because I think it contains unique and useful material. I find it particularly useful because it focuses on actual handwriting and contains lots of real examples with scanned handwriting samples rather than typed characters. The &#8220;minimum requirements&#8221; in the title doesn&#8217;t mean that all students of Chinese need to know everything here, but if you care about handwriting, you probably should.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#1\">Part 1<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#2\">Part 2<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#3\">Part 3<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#4\">Part 4<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#5\">Part 5<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a name=\"1\"><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Handwriting Chinese characters: The minimum requirements &#8211; Part 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This post is meant to provide a clear-cut standard for beginners regarding Chinese handwriting using common hard-tipped writing instruments like pencils and pens, focusing on <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Regular_script\" rel=\"nofollow external\">regular script (\u6977\u66f8)<\/a>. This is necessary because commonly available materials provide inaccurate information or stray too far into aesthetics too early, while neglecting the basics. My goal here is not to get you to write well, but to write correctly. The examples I show are made with a pencil, only caring to ensure that things are correct where they should be, with no attention paid to aesthetics.<\/p>\n<p>First, some axioms.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bbc\">\n<li><strong>Writing is a form of communication through symbols.<\/strong> Recognition of these symbols without distraction requires them to adhere to certain rules. These rules are called \u66f8\u6cd5, \u201cwriting rules.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Characters in regular script are recognized based on the length, direction, and placement of strokes.<\/strong> Stroke thickness is not essential. Therefore, regular script can be written correctly with a monoline writing instrument. However, an atypical scheme of line thickness variation that becomes distracting is still wrong.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With that, your goal when writing (regardless of writing instrument) should be to communicate without distraction. The most common potential distraction when writing is producing wrong characters. In general, writing something that has not been commonly employed <em class=\"bbc\">in exemplary pieces of writing for that particular morpheme<\/em> will probably result in a wrong character. More concretely, the difference between a right and wrong character can depend on:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Substitution of one character for another, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-9570 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/dfuebr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">..instead of&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9572 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/29p5kqw.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"152\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Substitution of one component for another, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9578 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/i1a6ie.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9579 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/33lyyc4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Absence of a required stroke (which may result in a substitution), e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9581 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/j58tq1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"154\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9582 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2u9tvf7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>An extra stroke, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9583 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/s6p01t.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9584 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/15z0684.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stroke placement is incorrect, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9586\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/osgw15.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"151\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9588\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sy1eh3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Substitution of one type of stroke for another, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9589\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/27xe6s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"147\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9590\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/1gg5fa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Width relationship of certain strokes are incorrect, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9591\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/s6p01t-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9592\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/21lonsw.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Height relationship of certain strokes are incorrect, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9593\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/14iebgl.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9594\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/214thtd.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Width relationship of certain components are incorrect, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9595\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2ir3rdc.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"151\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9596\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/rjkzrq.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>An opening where there should be none, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9597\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/5cddlv.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/5cddlv.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/5cddlv-150x149.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9598\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/30htw13.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lack of an opening where there should be one, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9599\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/30htw13-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/5cddlv-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/5cddlv-1.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/5cddlv-1-150x149.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Visibly incorrect stroke order, e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2nvqus8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2nvqus8.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2nvqus8-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;for&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9602\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/16c2deb.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/16c2deb.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/16c2deb-150x148.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I think that about covers it. The first piece of homework you have to do, then, is to learn to recognize and reproduce the basic strokes of regular script. They are most reliably recognized by their orientation and curvature. The number of different strokes varies depending on how you count. I only include those which I think differ significantly in technique.<\/p>\n<p>A horizontal stroke, commonly called \u6a6b, is written from left to right. It can be truly horizontal or tilted up at the right a bit. It rare cases it can be tilted down, but not doing so in such a case will not make the difference between a right and wrong character. It may bow up (most commonly) or down in the middle, but not extremely. If you vary the thickness, it must be thick on both ends.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/654fgi.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A vertical stroke, commonly called \u8c4e, is written from top to bottom. It must not curve. In most cases it should be ideally truly vertical. In some cases such as in the second stroke of \u4e94 it can slant and still be a vertical stroke as long as it does not curve. When written with line width variation, both ends are usually thick, although in some cases it can end in a point, and sometimes it must end in a point.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9605\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/8wh8xe.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A positive-sloped stroke, commonly called \u6487, is written from the upper right to the lower left. Lengths and curvatures of these strokes vary greatly. It usually bows down in the middle. In rare cases it must either be completely straight or bow up, such as the second stroke of \u70ba (<a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/view.asp?id=22064\" rel=\"nofollow external\">examples<\/a>). If you vary thickness, in most cases it must start thick and end thin. In some cases, such as in the third stroke of \u9e7f, it may start with a point, however not doing so will not result in a wrong character.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/og4fa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"146\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Dots, commonly called \u9ede, are short strokes going in some downward direction, written from the top. When writing with varying line thickness, start with a point and increase thickness until the end.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/20ua4a8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/15hihx5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9609\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2rr32n6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2rr32n6.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2rr32n6-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The dot to the right can be lengthened using the same technique, resulting in a straight or upwards-bowing negative slope stroke, called \u9577\u9ede or \u53cd\u637a.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9610\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/5519pk.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"158\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A negative slope stroke that bows down in the middle is called \u637a. At the top, if it is closer to horizontal, there is initially a rightward motion. If it is steeper, it starts directly in the downward bow. If it starts in the middle of another stroke, it starts with a point. If not, it likely must start thick, as in the last stroke of \u4e4b (<a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/view.asp?id=22156\" rel=\"nofollow external\">examples<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9611\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/15qd6pg.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/15qd6pg.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/15qd6pg-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A stroke that is written from the bottom left to the upper right, and tilts up more than a horizontal stroke, is called \u63d0. These are never the last stroke of a character. They start thick and end thin.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2dhgyls.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A round curve of about 90 degrees is called \u5f4e. They are usually a transition between a vertical and horizontal stroke.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9613\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/20ff1w4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"147\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hooks, called \u9264, are short attachments to major strokes. Most of them are very straightforward. On horizontal strokes, hooks can only go down. On vertical strokes, hooks can only go left.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9615\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/316u6c7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/316u6c7.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/316u6c7-150x148.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/znamj6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/znamj6.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/znamj6-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One stroke only occurs with a hook. I don&#8217;t know what it&#8217;s called, but it occurs in the last stroke of \u5b50 and the second stroke of \u72d7. It is rather vertical but bows to the right, starting thin and ending thick (where the hook starts, which ends thin again).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9617\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/3149nco.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hooks attached to rather steep \u637a are likely called \u659c\u9264. However, there are steep \u637a where you must not hook, as in the 4th to last stroke of \u570b (<a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/view.asp?id=22249\" rel=\"nofollow external\">example<\/a>). The hook should point straight up or slightly to the right, even if the next stroke occurs left of it, except in \u5fc3 and \u5fc5, where it should point left.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9616\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/25tb3ph.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/25tb3ph.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/25tb3ph-150x147.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Corners are the end of one stroke and the beginning of another. Corners can be correctly made by lifting your writing instrument up and starting a stroke that covers the end of the previous stroke. However, if at the end of one stroke you feel that you are prepared to start another, then go ahead and connect them. Note that stroke counts for dictionary classification are made assuming cornered strokes are connected into one where possible. Therefore, while I would write \u5e7a in 5 separate strokes, a dictionary would say it has 3 strokes.<br \/>\n<a name=\"2\"><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Handwriting Chinese characters: The minimum requirements &#8211; Part 2<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Now that you can identify and reproduce all strokes in regular script, it&#8217;s time to learn to use them correctly. When looking at an example character, observe the writer&#8217;s <strong class=\"bbc\"><em class=\"bbc\">intent<\/em><\/strong> regarding:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bbc\">\n<li>What kind of stroke is employed.<\/li>\n<li>In relation to other strokes and components,\n<ul class=\"bbc\">\n<li>Where it starts<\/li>\n<li>What it passes through<\/li>\n<li>Where it ends<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>In what order it&#8217;s written<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A note about <strong class=\"bbc\">stroke order: the tl;dr<\/strong> about it is to memorize <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chinese-forums.com\/index.php?\/blog\/25\/entry-435-extension-of-newb-questions-that-never-get-good-answers-part-3\/\">this list<\/a> and use Japanese standard stroke order references like <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/kakijun.jp\/\" rel=\"nofollow external\">this<\/a> in order to produce correct stroke orders. For more details, read <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chinese-forums.com\/index.php?\/blog\/25\/entry-168-newb-questions-that-never-get-good-answers-part-3\/\">this<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now I will elaborate a bit about <strong class=\"bbc\">intent<\/strong>. When you try to write 10 of the same character the same way, they will all be different because of human imprecision, although you have the same target character in your mind. The character in your mind is a <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grapheme\" rel=\"nofollow external\">grapheme<\/a> (underlying form), and what is written is the surface form. By observing multiple surface forms, you will get a better idea of what the grapheme must be. For example, observe the 1st and 2nd strokes of the many examples of \u6708 <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%D4%C2&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">here<\/a>. In most examples, both of them touch to form a corner. In some examples, they don&#8217;t touch or almost touch. In even fewer examples, they pass through each other. By observing these examples, one should conclude that they should be ideally touching to form a corner, although if you write 10 of them, and 2 of them look like this:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9619\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/fvh403-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"146\" height=\"147\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;and one of them looks like this:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9620\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/e8oo68.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"148\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;<strong class=\"bbc\">that&#8217;s OK<\/strong>. However, no amount of technical deficiency would produce something like this:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9619\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/fvh403-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"146\" height=\"147\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, when writing Chinese characters, it is necessary for your intent to be correct, even if your rendition in some instances is not.<\/p>\n<p>Now let&#8217;s practice our observational techniques on another character. Look at \u5927 <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%B4%F3&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">here<\/a>. Only look at regular script examples. Here is what I see stroke by stroke:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bbc\">\n<li>In all examples, the first stroke is a \u4e00. I conclude this is the rule.<\/li>\n<li>In all examples, the second stroke is a \u4e3f that begins somewhere obviously above the first stroke, centered on it, and passes through it, ending either under the beginning of the first stroke or obviously to the left. In most examples it is obviously to the left. I conclude that ideally it is obviously to the left, although not quite getting there is OK.<\/li>\n<li>In all examples, the third stroke is a \u31cf beginning at the intersection of the first and second strokes, end extends well past the end of the first stroke, at around the same height as the second stroke. I conclude this is the rule.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now I try to reproduce it.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9622\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2j1q460.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bbc\">\n<li>The first stroke is a \u4e00. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2713<\/span><\/li>\n<li>The second stroke is a \u4e3f that begins somewhere obviously above the first stroke, centered on it, and passes through it, ending either under the beginning of the first stroke or obviously to the left. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2713<\/span><\/li>\n<li>The third stroke is a \u31cf beginning at the intersection of the first and second strokes, end extends well past the end of the first stroke, at around the same height as the second stroke. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2713<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If I break the last rule one way or another:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9623\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2nkt6zd.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2nkt6zd.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2nkt6zd-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/33cn1pw.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/33cn1pw.jpg 152w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/33cn1pw-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 152px) 100vw, 152px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8230;I will produce wrong characters. On the left I wrote the first stroke too long and\/or the last stroke too short. On the right I replaced the last stroke with a \u4e36, which was in none of the regular script examples.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Now that you know how to write \u5927, you can use it to learn other characters that contain it, like \u5929 or \u592a. Let&#8217;s look at \u592a <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%CC%AB&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"bbc\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The majority is written like \u5927. Since you know that already, there is no need to relearn.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There is a \u4e36 placed between the 2nd and 3rd strokes. Most examples place it directly under the intersection (and not halfway between the 2nd and 3rd strokes).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">More on that last point, observe <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/view.asp?id=32432\" rel=\"nofollow external\">this<\/a>. The dot is placed under the intersection. If it were halfway between the 2nd and 3rd strokes, it would be to the right of the intersection. Technical imprecision can produce a dot that goes anywhere in the area between the 2nd and 3rd strokes, but most examples seem to aim directly under the intersection. Also, some learners who are used to looking at modern typefaces will likely have a grapheme in their heads with the dot attached to the 2nd stroke, even if it ends up left of the intersection. This is because modern Chinese regular script typefaces render it so. Here is DFKai-SB:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9628\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sc84ch.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"253\" height=\"230\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Compare with a Japanese typeface Epson \u6b63\u6977\u66f8\u4f53M:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9626\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/wcl1df.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"268\" height=\"243\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Although technical imprecision could cause someone meaning to put it under the intersection to attach it to the 2nd stroke, an intent to do so is inaccurate. One can avoid this by always using good examples. Unfortunately, the best examples are rarely presented to beginners. The <strong class=\"bbc\">tl;dr about good examples<\/strong> is go to a \u66f8\u6cd5\u5b57\u5178 like <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.htm\" rel=\"nofollow external\">9610.com<\/a>, search for what you want (in Simplified Chinese), and prioritize \u6b50\u967d\u8a62, \u984f\u771f\u537f, and \u67f3\u516c\u6b0a, being careful not to learn a wrong character because they are misclassified.<\/p>\n<p>This might seem like a lot of work, but if you do it, you will find that you will only need to look up simple characters, as complex characters are made of simple components. Furthermore, it isn&#8217;t much additional work if you are learning characters, as observing example characters in detail only strengthens your character memory.<br \/>\n<a name=\"3\"><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Handwriting Chinese characters: The minimum requirements &#8211; Part 3<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In part 2 I introduced to you some things you should look for when observing example characters. To review, they are<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bbc\">\n<li>What kind of stroke is employed.<\/li>\n<li>In relation to other strokes and components,\n<ul class=\"bbc\">\n<li>Where it starts<\/li>\n<li>What it passes through<\/li>\n<li>Where it ends<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>In what order it&#8217;s written<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now we will do some further exercises in observing examples such that good graphemes make it into you head.<\/p>\n<p>First, let&#8217;s do one exercise regarding length of horizontal strokes. Do you know how to write \u4e09? If you&#8217;re like most people you probably think the first stroke is longer than the second. Look at <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%C8%FD&amp;Submit=%CA%E9%B7%A8%D7%D6%B5%E4\" rel=\"nofollow external\">these<\/a>. You should see that they are actually pretty much the same length. If there is any significant difference, then the second stroke is longer. But most importantly, the third stroke is still much longer than the first two.<\/p>\n<p>And so here I give you a rule about regular script: <strong class=\"bbc\">In any one character there can be no more than one thing that extends far to the right<\/strong>, and if it&#8217;s a horizontal stroke, it likely starts on the far left, spanning the whole character. Everything else should usually be much narrower. Therefore, when a character has many uncontained horizontal strokes (i.e. not in \u76ee or something), pay attention to which one is longest. It will be much longer than the others. Let&#8217;s examine this in a few more characters.<\/p>\n<p>A close call is not acceptable:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9630\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2lurriw.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2lurriw.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2lurriw-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9629\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2utng5u.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"151\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9631\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/24118yf.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/24118yf.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/24118yf-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9632\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/4tpuhj.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The difference between the longest horizontal stroke and the others must be obvious:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9633\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/5jtjwm.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/5jtjwm.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/5jtjwm-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9634\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sm7qte.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sm7qte.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sm7qte-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9635\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/xcvip4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9636\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2h3dkwp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>(Verify on 9610.com: <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%CA%E9&amp;Submit=%CA%E9%B7%A8%D7%D6%B5%E4\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u66f8<\/a>, <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%C3%BF&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u6bcf<\/a>, <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%C9%C6&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u5584<\/a>, <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%C2%A5&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u6a13<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>And remember, use good examples to make sure the long horizontal stroke is the right one.<br \/>\n\u83ef \u2190What does that look like to you? Does it look like any of <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%BB%AA&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">these<\/a>? Or is it more like this?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9637\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/1zdvy3m.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"151\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If that looks wrong to you, then you&#8217;re in good shape, because it should be like this:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9638\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/154kq40-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"151\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Now, remember that the rule says &#8220;in any one character there can be no more than one <em class=\"bbc\">thing<\/em> that extends far to the right.&#8221; This <em class=\"bbc\">thing<\/em> doesn&#8217;t have to be a horizontal stroke. It can be a \u31cf or any hook to the upper right, like \u31c2 (or \u4e5a). In any character there will be at most one of \u31cf or \u31c2 or \u4e5a or long horizontal strokes. This rule has a name in Chinese:<strong class=\"bbc\"> \u4e00\u5b57\u4e0d\u4e8c\u637a<\/strong>. You should remember from before that \u637a refers to \u31cf, but in this context, it <strong class=\"bbc\">refers to all of \u31cf, \u31c2, \u4e5a, and long horizontal strokes<\/strong>. If you find yourself writing \u31cf or \u31c2 or \u4e5a and it isn&#8217;t the rightmost thing in a character, you&#8217;re probably doing something wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Observe the following wrong characters:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9643\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/znlrt1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/znlrt1.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/znlrt1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9642\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ogcqs1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"150\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/fdv98m.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/219b9n4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"146\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9639\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2nkt6zd-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2nkt6zd-1.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2nkt6zd-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u6797 contains two \u6728. You know that \u6728 ends with a \u31cf but if you write \u6797, the first one has to change to \u4e36. If not, two problems will arise: (1) there are more than one \u31cf and (2) there is a \u31cf that is not the rightmost thing of the character. In \u7591 there is the \u31cf at the end, but many people like to write a hook on \u5315, and if you don&#8217;t kill it in \u7591, you&#8217;ll end up with both a \u4e5a and a \u31cf. Remember that there can be at most one of these. \u8f1d has \u5149 on the left. \u5149 ends with \u4e5a when written alone, but because it isn&#8217;t the rightmost thing in the character, the hook must come off, which results in a bare horizontal end, and because there is more stuff to write to the upper right, this bare horizontal end becomes a \u31c0. In \u4e03 there are both a long horizontal stroke and a \u4e5a. Furthermore, \u4e5a isn&#8217;t the rightmost thing. And you should remember \u5927 from Part 2. The problem in this context is that there are both a long horizontal stroke and a \u31cf. Observe these characters corrected:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9648\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/25ri3ac.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"151\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9647\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/28whxu9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"151\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9646\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2n17x2u.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2n17x2u.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2n17x2u-150x149.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9644\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/1evvrn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9645\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2j1q460-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Next, I will show you more rightward-extending <em class=\"bbc\">things<\/em> that can&#8217;t contend for rightwardness with anything else: components like \u5b80 and \u76bf.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9652\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/rjkzrq-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"150\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9651\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/351g1zb.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"149\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/wv495e.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"149\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9649\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2i1jo2g.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2i1jo2g.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2i1jo2g-150x149.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;the key word being &#8220;contend.&#8221; Notice \u5b80 being most rightward in \u5bf6, but giving it up in \u5b89 to the \u4e00 in \u5973. In \u5b5f, there is \u5b50 and \u76bf, both having long horizontal strokes when written alone, but when written together \u76bf dominates. In \u76e1 we have \u807f+\u706b+\u76bf. \u807f and \u76bf have long horizontal strokes when written alone, but in \u76e1, \u807f dominates.<\/p>\n<p>Below I have written the 266 most common characters in Mandarin as further demonstration of this rule. I have circled the rightmost extender in each character if there is one. Sometimes the character doesn&#8217;t have one, such as when the rightmost thing is a vertical stroke, as in \u500b. There will be no \u31cf, \u31c2, \u4e5a, or long horizontal strokes that do not have a red circle (except in \u5fc3), unless I have written incorrectly. A blue asterisk means that there are other correct ways of writing the character where a different stroke or component is extended to the right.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/25au8u1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5653\" src=\"http:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/25au8u1-1024x759.jpg\" alt=\"25au8u1\" width=\"600\" height=\"445\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Finally, I will show you some characters straight out of my computer that break this rule:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9654\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2m67321-300x76.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"76\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2m67321-300x76.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2m67321.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This is DFKai-SB, or \u6a19\u6977\u9ad4, which exhibits the <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Standard_Form_of_National_Characters\" rel=\"nofollow external\">standard character forms of the Republic of China<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"bbc\">Quiz question<\/strong>: Do you know how to correct them?<\/p>\n<p>Answer:<\/p>\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler\">\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_content\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_content\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/1zuqoh.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/1zuqoh.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/1zuqoh-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9657\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2n0vw5s.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"148\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9655\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2mrxwg1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"149\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9656\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2md1e7c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2md1e7c.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2md1e7c-150x149.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><a name=\"4\"><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Handwriting Chinese characters: The minimum requirements &#8211; Part 4<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s start with a&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"bbc\">Warm up:<\/strong><br \/>\nKenny asks Eric how to write \u6625. Eric says &#8220;Write \u4e09, then write \u4eba centered on that, then write \u65e5 under that.&#8221; If Kenny follows Eric&#8217;s instructions exactly, will he write \u6625 correctly?<\/p>\n<p>Answer:<\/p>\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler\">\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_content\">Perhaps you have heard that mnemonic before, and while it might produce something that people can recognize, it will not be without distraction. Take a look:<\/div>\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_content\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9659\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/af7a76.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/af7a76.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/af7a76-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler\">\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_content\">There you go. A \u4e09 squished vertically but preserving the long \u4e00, and then a \u4eba written directly onto that, and then \u65e5 under that. And yes, \u4eba does start with a rather straight \u4e3f (<a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%C8%CB&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">source<\/a>). I hope you see the problem here. There are both a long \u4e00 and a \u31cf. There is no problem with the 5th stroke starting above the 3rd stroke (<a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/view.asp?id=10641\" rel=\"nofollow external\">source<\/a>) although it is better if it doesn&#8217;t touch the 4th stroke. Now see this character corrected:<\/div>\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_content\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_content\">The major problem has been corrected. The 5th stroke ends far to the right of the 3rd stroke, as in <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%B4%BA&amp;Submit=%CA%E9%B7%A8%D7%D6%B5%E4\" rel=\"nofollow external\">all examples<\/a>. It is more tempting than one might think to write that 3rd stroke long. Also, although not critical, the 4th stroke should start more steeply and curve more. I also start the 5th stroke from the 3rd stroke, as is more common.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Moving on. In this post I want to go over <strong class=\"bbc\">gut feeling<\/strong>. I hope over this series you&#8217;ve developed some. Here are some more weird things you might encounter that, like wrong width-relationships, should make you feel like something&#8217;s off.<br \/>\nOne thing is the \u31c0 (\u63d0) stroke, or rather misuse thereof. This stroke usually comes into being as a modification of some other stroke, usually to ease transition into starting the next stroke. Think of all the \u31c0 in the characters you know. Likely there is something following it to the upper right. This is also why \u31c0 is never the last stroke of a character. If you find yourself writing \u31c0 as the last stroke of a character, then there are two possibilities:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"bbcol decimal\">\n<li>It should actually be some other stroke, this stroke being what became \u31c0.<\/li>\n<li>You have written in the wrong stroke order.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As an illustration of number 1, here are a few characters in DFKai-SB:<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9660\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ouvczc-300x151.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"151\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In \u7fbd, there should only be one \u31c0: the 3rd stroke. This is only a \u31c0 to ease transition to the next stroke that begins to the upper right. The last stroke should be a \u4e36 just like the 5th stroke. To make it \u31c0 would point it at nothing. In \u5c07, the 8th stroke should also be \u4e36 because the next stroke starts below it. There is nothing right of it to write. Observe these characters written correctly in Epson \u6b63\u6977\u66f8\u4f53M:<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9661\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2s6sml2-300x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This is also the case with the ice radical \u51ab as in \u51b7. The underlying form should just be two \u4e36, one on top of the other. However, because it is often followed by something to the upper right, the bottom \u4e36 becomes \u31c0. This leads to such hypercorrections as:<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9662\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/24vpeac.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>That would be Adobe \u660e\u9ad4 Std L. Observe this corrected:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9663\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/14brvcn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As for number 2, let&#8217;s say you think the stroke order of \u8033 is \u4e00 \u4e28 \u4e28 \u4e00 \u4e00 \u4e00, and let&#8217;s say you look through <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%CE%C5&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">examples of \u805e<\/a> because you can&#8217;t find any \u8033 in regular script, and it seems to end with \u31c0. You feel like something&#8217;s wrong here. Actually 2 things: (1) the stroke order is wrong and (2) you probably extended the wrong horizontal stroke. Here I give you Epson \u6b63\u6977\u66f8\u4f53M:<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9664\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2l7693.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;and here is \u8033 correctly written with stroke order from black to red:<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9665\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2eoxi07.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And as you can see, the last stroke is actually \u4e28. Enough about \u31c0.<\/p>\n<p>Next, a bit about \u53c8. This is very a common character building block. In many typefaces you&#8217;ll see the 2nd stroke starting where the 1st stroke started, forming a corner:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/1y9z4j.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If your gut feeling has developed sufficiently, you&#8217;ll find it quite awkward to do so, i.e. to write such a long \u4e00 before turning a corner into a \u4e3f. That is because <em class=\"bbc\">all<\/em> of these instances are short, e.g. in \u5915, or it&#8217;s actually a \u31c0 like in \u6c34, and so \u53c8 written in this way is wrong. Let&#8217;s look at the <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chineseetymology.org\/CharacterEtymology.aspx?submitButton1=Etymology&amp;characterInput=%E5%8F%88\" rel=\"nofollow external\">etymology<\/a>. You should see that this was a picture of a right hand, and likely the original character for \u53f3. Look at the <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chineseetymology.org\/CharacterEtymology.aspx?submitButton1=Etymology&amp;characterInput=%E5%8F%B3\" rel=\"nofollow external\">etymology for \u53f3<\/a> and you should also see that it&#8217;s just \u53c8 with \u53e3 under it (which should also explain the stroke order of \u4e3f\u4e00 for the tops of \u53f3, \u6709, and \u5e03), and finally look at <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%D3%D6&amp;Submit=%CA%E9%B7%A8%D7%D6%B5%E4\" rel=\"nofollow external\">examples of \u53c8<\/a>, and you should see that in all examples, even that first one that&#8217;s usually wrong, there is an opening in the upper left. And you should also notice that in anything that looks like \u53c8, such as \u6535 or \u5902 or \u590a, the last stroke doesn&#8217;t start at the beginning of the \u4e00.<\/p>\n<p>Next, I will talk about variants. The Chinese call these \u7570\u9ad4\u5b57, although this term implies something nonstandard or unorthodox. I consider two characters variants if they differ in stroke type or placement. That means \u592a with the dot attached to the 2nd stroke and \u592a with the dot centered under the intersection are different variants. The ROC&#8217;s <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/dict.variants.moe.edu.tw\/\" rel=\"nofollow external\">MOE variant dictionary<\/a> doesn&#8217;t even differentiate them. And of course, not all variants are correct.<\/p>\n<p>So, here you are, probably not too experienced with writing Chinese, faced with so many variants and big bad me, who can pick wrong characters out of computer fonts. What do you do? The short answer is: pick one way to write your entire vocabulary and stick with it. As for which variant to pick, pick the most popular among the best examples of regular script. Again, these are \u6b50\u967d\u8a62, \u984f\u771f\u537f, \u67f3\u516c\u6b0a. Avoid obscure variants. They hinder communication among those who are not well read, or are distracting to those who are. Furthermore, if I see an obscure variant in your writing, and I also see wrong characters, that will not leave a good impression. And remember, only wrong learning and\/or carelessness can produce wrong characters; technical deficiencies cannot produce wrong characters, as I illustrated in Part 2 using \u6708. Also, if you feel like there is a character that is just too awkward to write in its orthodox form, there is likely a common variant that is easier. Examples I can think of are \u9aa8, \u65b7, \u7bc0, \u4e58, \u5937, \u7686, \u9b3c, \u7b56..<\/p>\n<p>However, if\/when you get a feel for what is legal and what is not legal, you will find that there is quite a bit of freedom in Chinese writing, and it will feel easier than ever before.<br \/>\n<a name=\"5\"><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Handwriting Chinese characters: The minimum requirements &#8211; Part 5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is both a review and a quiz. There are no new ideas here.<\/p>\n<p>1. What is \u8a9e, with \u5fc4 in place of \u8a00?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">a. \u8aa4<br \/>\nb. \u543e<br \/>\nc. \u60c5<br \/>\nd. \u609f<\/p>\n<p>2. Observe the characters <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%B1%CF&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u7562<\/a> and <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%BB%AA&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u83ef<\/a>. Choose the <strong class=\"bbc\">incorrect character<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>a.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/348g8s4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>b.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9668\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2n7kzgy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2n7kzgy.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2n7kzgy-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>c.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/348g8s4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>3. Observe the characters <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%CB%E4&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u96d6<\/a> and <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%D1%C5&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u96c5<\/a>. Choose the <strong class=\"bbc\">incorrect character<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>a.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9673\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/wslj53.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>b.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9672\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/vecigl.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>c.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9671\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bhkkfk.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>d.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9670\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2ymvdxz.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"151\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>4. Observe the characters <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%C4%BE&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u6728<\/a>, <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%BC%BE&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u5b63<\/a>, and <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%D2%B5&amp;Submit=%CB%D1%CB%F7\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u696d<\/a>. Choose the <strong class=\"bbc\">incorrect character<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>a.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9677\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bgahi9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"151\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>b.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9676\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2eb7bes.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>c.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/20z1x5i.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>d.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9674\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/9sc604.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>5. Choose the <strong class=\"bbc\">correct character<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>a.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/23k9sfs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>b.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2s67ygz.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>c.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9679\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ehk6sm.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"147\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>d.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/fw51ea.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"148\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>6. Choose the <strong class=\"bbc\">correct character<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>a.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9685\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/e8mnpl.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/e8mnpl.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/e8mnpl-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>b.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/288dj7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>c.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2zznebk.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"149\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>d.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/zsraxj.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/zsraxj.jpg 151w, https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/zsraxj-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 151px) 100vw, 151px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>7. Observe the character <a class=\"bbc_url\" title=\"External link\" href=\"http:\/\/9610.com\/zidian\/index.asp?key=%B1%D8&amp;Submit=%CA%E9%B7%A8%D7%D6%B5%E4\" rel=\"nofollow external\">\u5fc5<\/a>. Choose the <strong class=\"bbc\">correct stroke order<\/strong>, from black to red.<\/p>\n<p>a.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9688\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/i3wjg0.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>b.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-9687\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/qzp275.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>c.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9686\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hackingchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/2u7ruaw.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Answer key:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler\">\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_content\">1. d<br \/>\n2. c<br \/>\n3. a<br \/>\n4. a<br \/>\n5. a<br \/>\n6. b<br \/>\n7. a<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"bbc_spoiler_content\">If you want to discuss the contents of this article with the author or ask questions about the review questions, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chinese-forums.com\/index.php?\/topic\/44507-handwriting-the-minimum-requirements-blog-series\/\">please do so in the thread created on Chinese Forums<\/a>!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is a guide to handwriting Chinese characters. It&#8217;s not about writing beautifully, but writing correctly, including things like stroke placement, length and direction. There are numerous examples of handwritten characters (real examples, not typed characters) along with practical exercises to see if you have grasped the core ideas. The article goes somewhat beyond the bare minimum for beginners, but is certainly a must for anyone who cares about handwriting Chinese characters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5,6,10,22,23],"tags":[86,101,112,222,253,549],"class_list":["post-5140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advanced","category-beginner","category-distinctively-chinese","category-intermediate","category-vocabulary","category-writing","tag-calligraphy","tag-character-variants","tag-chinese-characters","tag-font","tag-handwriting","tag-stroke-order"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Handwriting Chinese characters: The minimum requirements<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This is a guide to handwriting Chinese characters. 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