How to write 写 (xiě, “to write”)
写 (xiě), an HSK 1 character, means “to write”. The traditional form is 寫, 15 strokes instead of 5. On its own it is an HSK 1 word; it also forms 填写 (“to fill in a form”), 写作 (“to write”) and 书写 (“to write”). Japanese reads it sha, “copy”, as a JLPT N4 kanji.
- Pinyin
- xiě
- Strokes
- 5
- HSK
- 1
- Radical
- 冖 (“cover”)
- Traditional
- 寫
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
As a top-bottom character it splits into 冖 (“cover”, the radical), strokes 1–2; 与 (“and”), strokes 3–5, written the top first.
- Dot ㇔top leftdownwards
- Horizontal hook ㇖top leftrightwards → down and left
- Horizontal ㇐centerrightwards
- Vertical-turn-curve-hook ㇉topdownwards → rightwards → downwards
- Horizontal ㇐bottom leftrightwards
Japanese and Chinese
Japanese and Chinese draw all 5 strokes in the same order and direction, by our stroke-by-stroke comparison.
Traditional form
- Simplified
- 写 · 5 strokes
- Traditional
- 寫 · 15 strokes · see its strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| xiě third tone | to write | 寫 | 填写 写作 书写 描写 |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 1
- 2021 standard
- level 1
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 1 word
- Words with it
- 81 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 写
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 写 寫 | xiě | to write HSK 1 |
| 填写 填寫 | tiánxiě | to fill in a form; to write data in a box… HSK 4 |
| 写作 寫作 | xiězuò | to write; to compose HSK 5 |
| 书写 書寫 | shūxiě | to write HSK 6 |
| 描写 描寫 | miáoxiě | to describe; to depict HSK 6 |
| 编写 編寫 | biānxiě | to compile HSK 6 |
| 写照 寫照 | xiězhào | portrayal HSK 7-9 |
| 撰写 撰寫 | zhuànxiě | to write; to compose HSK 7-9 |
| 写下 寫下 | xiěxià | to write down |
| 写字 寫字 | xiězì | to write; to practice calligraphy |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
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Keep going
HSK 1, in list order: