Where 最 comes from
To take place 取 under the sun 日 (that is, everywhere)
How to write 最 (zuì, “to the highest degree”)
最 (zuì), an HSK 2 character, means “to the highest degree” and “best or most extreme example”. It is HSK 2 in the 2025 syllabus, up from level 1 in the 2021 standard. It is a character whose parts combine into its meaning. Dictionaries list it under the radical 曰 (“to speak”). On its own it is an HSK 2 word; it also forms 最后 (“final”), 最好 (“best”) and 最近 (“recently”). Japanese reads it sai, “utmost”, as a JLPT N3 kanji.
- Pinyin
- zuì
- Strokes
- 12
- HSK
- 2
- Radical
- 曰 (“to speak”)
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
As a top-bottom character it splits into 日 (“sun”), strokes 1–4; 取 (“to take”), strokes 5–12, written the top first.
- top leftdownwards
- toprightwards → downwards
- toprightwards
- toprightwards
- leftrightwards
- leftdownwards
- centerdownwards
- leftup and right → rightwards
- leftrightwards
- bottom leftrightwards
- centerrightwards → down and left
- centerdown and right
Japanese and Chinese
The two models differ in shape, so our comparison does not claim an order; compare the numbered frames yourself (12 strokes in Japanese, 12 strokes in Chinese).
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| zuì fourth tone | (before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est; (after 之 (zhī)) best or most extreme example (e.g. 世界之最 (shìjièzhīzuì) "the greatest in the world") | — | 最后 最好 最近 最终 |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 2
- 2021 standard
- level 1
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 2 word
- Words with it
- 44 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 最
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 最 | zuì | (before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ... HSK 2 |
| 最后 最後 | zuìhòu | final; last HSK 3 |
| 最好 | zuìhǎo | best; had better ... HSK 3 |
| 最近 | zuìjìn | recently; soon HSK 3 |
| 最终 最終 | zuìzhōng | final; ultimate HSK 4 |
| 最初 | zuìchū | first; primary HSK 5 |
| 最佳 | zuìjiā | optimum; optimal HSK 5 |
| 最先 | zuìxiān | (the) very first |
| 最多 | zuìduō | at most; maximum |
| 最少 | zuìshǎo | at least; minimum |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several characters: worksheet maker.
Keep going
HSK 2, in list order: