These basic strokes are
sometimes combined without the pen leaving the paper. In the above
example of "eternally", strokes 2-3-4 are written as one continuous stroke,
as are strokes 5-6. Hence in dictionaries this character is indexed as having
five separate strokes.

Stroke Order

Writing characters in the correct order is essential for the character
to look correct. Two basic rules are followed:

1. Top before bottom


2. Left before right


These rules conflict whenever one stroke is to the bottom
and left of another. Several additional rules resolve many of these
conflicts.

3. Left vertical stroke (usually) before top horizontal stroke


4. Bottom horizontal stroke last


5. Center stroke before wings


6. Horizontal strokes before intersecting vertical strokes


7. Left-falling strokes before right-falling srokes


A final rule can contradict the others:

8. Minor strokes (often) last



Despite these conflicts between rules most students quickly acquire a natural
feel for the proper stroke order.

Component Order

Most Chinese characters are combinations of simpler, component characters.
Usually the two parts are written at top and bottom


or left and right


so that the main two stroke order rules readily apply.
Occasionally these rules also conflict with respect to components.
When one component is at the bottom-left, and the other at the top-right,
the top-right component is sometimes written first.


When there are several components, top components are written first.


These rules usually imply each component is written in its entirety before another
component is written. Exceptions may arise when one component divides another,

encompasses another,


or the individual components are no longer discernible in modern writing.

For detailed stroke orders for thousands of characters, see
Ocrat.com. You can
access the relevant stroke information at Ocrat.com from this website by clicking on
the large "+" sign accompanying each character entry.

For information on Chinese calligraphy please see China the Beautiful.