Chinese Character Strokes
Names, Directions & Writing Rules

Straight horizontal line, gentle rise to the right

The horizontal stroke (héng) is the foundational horizontal anchor in Chinese calligraphy. Drawn smoothly from left to right with a slight upward incline of about 5 degrees.

Straight upright vertical pillar

The vertical stroke (shù) serves as the vertical backbone of characters. It requires a straight downward line, maintaining vertical alignment.

Sweeping slash toward lower-left

The left-falling slash (piě) sweeps downward toward the lower-left, starting firmly and tapering off to a sharp tip.

Broad rightward glide, press and release

The right-falling press (nà) glides smoothly downward-right, gradually increasing pressure before tapering out with an elegant tail.

Downward slant dot, firm and crisp

The dot (diǎn) is a compact, firm pressure stroke. It starts lightly and presses firmly downward-right.

Upward rightward brisk flick

The upward flick (tí) presses down firmly on the lower-left, then briskly snaps upward-right into a sharp taper.

Downright vertical with clean upward-left hook

Draws straight downward vertically, pauses at the base, and kicks firmly upward-left to form a sharp hook.

Horizontal stroke with a crisp downward turn

The horizontal turning stroke draws a horizontal line, pauses with slight pressure at the corner, and turns straight downward in one stroke.

Horizontal, downward turn, and neat hook

A continuous compound stroke: horizontal bar, crisp downward turn, ending with a sharp hook pointing inward-upward.

Horizontal, downward angle, flick upward in one continuous stroke

Horizontal right, turns downward with a leftward lean, and continuously flicks upward-right into a sharp rising tip.

Short horizontal with swift diagonal left turn

Draws a short horizontal line, pauses at the shoulder, and sweeps smoothly downward-left in a sweeping slash.

Horizontal ending with inward hook

A horizontal stroke that terminates with a sharp, compact hook pointing downward-left, common in canopy radicals.

Vertical pillar turning rightward

Starts straight downward as a vertical line, pivots firmly at the corner, and proceeds horizontally rightward.

Vertical downward rounding gently to the right

Proceeds vertically down and smoothly curves rightward with a rounded bend, ending flat without any hook.

Graceful curve, flat bottom, proud upward hook

A graceful stroke descending vertically, rounding smoothly into a flat base, then pointing proudly upward in a sharp hook.

Downward line flicking briskly upper-right

Travels downward vertically, pauses briefly at the base, and quickly flicks upward-right into a tapered point.

Leftward slash, crisp turn to the right

Slashes downward-left, anchors at the corner, and turns sharply rightward or upward-right in one stroke.

Slash angled into a dot

First stroke of the female radical (女). Starts downward-left as a slash, then angles downward-right as a long dot.

Long slanted curve hooking upward

A sweeping diagonal arch curving toward the bottom-right, finishing with a crisp upward hook. Found in 我 and 戈.

Gently bowed vertical stroke with hook

The core stroke in 子 (seen in 学, 字, 好). Curves gently downward without a flat base, ending with a hook pointing upper-left.

Crescent flat bottom curve hooking upward

A crescent-shaped cradled hook lying flat at the base, sweeping smoothly and flicking upward-left into the interior.

Complex multiple turns ending in a hook

A continuous multi-pivot compound stroke with three sharp direction shifts before terminating in an upward hook.

Horizontal turn flowing into a curved hook

The upper curved component of the ear radical (阝). Combines horizontal, slash, and curved hook in one movement.

Vertical turning right, then down with hook

Compound stroke descending vertically, turning rightward, turning downward again, and finishing with a hook.