7 Basic Rules To Chinese Stroke Order

When a Chinese character is “stacked” vertically, like the character 立 (lì) or “to stand,” the rule is to write from top to bottom.

When a Chinese character has a radical, the character is written left to right. The same rule applies to characters that are stacked horizontally. Take a look at the “吃 (chī)” example below, which means “to eat.”

When you are writing a character that is centered and more or less symmetrical (but not stacked from top to bottom) the general rule is to write the center stroke first. Check out the character “小(xiǎo)” which means “small.”

Horizontal strokes are always written before vertical strokes. Check out how to write the character “十(shí)” or “ten.”

You want to create the frame of the character before you fill it in. Check out how to write the character 日(rì) or “sun.”

Remember this step as, "You want to fill the closet before you close the door.” After you write the middle strokes, close the frame, such as in the character “回(huí)” or “to return.”