爱 (pinyin: ài, radical: 爫, HSK 1) has 10 strokes in total. Official stroke order sequence: 1. Short Slash (piě) → 2. Dot (diǎn) → 3. Dot (diǎn) → 4. Slash (piě) → 5. Dot (diǎn) → 6. Horizontal Slash (héng piě) → 7. Horizontal Slash (héng piě) → 8. Horizontal Slash (héng piě) → 9. Left-falling (piě) → 10. Right-falling (nà).
Interactive Stroke Animation
Vector SVGMeaning & English Definition
Love; affection; to be fond of; to like; benevolent.
上部爪字如手轻抚，中盖包容，底部友部如执手同行，笔势温润舒展。
Common Stroke Order Mistakes
The middle component is a crown without top point (冖), not 宀. At the bottom, the final 10th stroke (nà) must sweep broadly to the right, balancing the entire character with strength and grace.
Mnemonic & Memory Hook
Gentle hands above, shelter in the middle, true friends walking together below — love surrounds and elevates us.
Essential Vocabulary & Compounds
Step-by-Step Stroke Order Breakdown (10 Strokes)
Detailed stroke-by-stroke progressive breakdown. Preceding strokes in dark ink, current stroke highlighted in vermilion red.
First gentle top-left slash
First downward dot of claw
Second middle dot
Rightward slant slash
Left dot of canopy
Horizontal roof with neat turn
Upper slash of bottom component
Second connecting slash-turn
Sweeping left slash
Major foundational right-falling stroke anchoring the word