Hanzi Foundations: Strokes, Grids, and Basic Shapes

1) The Visual Building Blocks

Chinese characters are built from a small set of repeatable strokes placed inside an invisible square. If you can control stroke direction, length, and where a stroke starts/ends, your writing becomes readable even before it becomes “beautiful.”

The standard writing grid (how to use it)

Use a square grid (like 田-style practice paper). Imagine three guides:

• Vertical center line: helps you keep left and right parts balanced.
• Horizontal center line: helps you place the “weight” of the character (top-heavy vs bottom-heavy).
• Outer box: sets the maximum height/width so strokes don’t sprawl.

Balance rule: strokes should “lean” toward the center. Even when a stroke goes outward, its visual weight should still feel anchored in the square.

Proportion rule: long strokes should look intentionally long, not accidentally long. Short strokes should be clearly short, not “unfinished.”

2) Stroke Demos: How to Write Each Stroke (and Fix Common Mistakes)

In the demos below, focus on three things: start (where the pen touches), path (direction/angle), and finish (how you lift or stop). Use a pencil or pen; aim for consistent pressure.

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Horizontal stroke: 横 (héng)

What it is: left-to-right stroke, slightly rising or level depending on style.

Start →────→ End

Step-by-step:

• Touch down with a small, controlled start (not a big blob).
• Move left to right with steady speed.
• Finish cleanly; don’t “flick” unless the character calls for it.

Common mistakes → fixes:

• Wavy line → slow down slightly; move from the forearm, not just fingers.
• Drops downward → keep your eyes on the end point; aim a tiny bit upward.
• Too long → mark the intended end point on the grid first.

Vertical stroke: 竖 (shù)

What it is: top-to-bottom stroke, usually straight and stable.

Start ↓│ End

Step-by-step:

• Touch down near the top area of the square.
• Pull straight down toward the bottom guide.
• Stop firmly; avoid a tail unless needed.

Common mistakes → fixes:

• Leaning → align with the grid’s vertical center line; check halfway down.
• Curving → keep wrist neutral; guide with forearm.
• Bottom “hook” by accident → lift straight up at the end instead of dragging.

Dot: 点 (diǎn)

What it is: a small mark with direction; not just a round dot.

• (with a slight directional pull)

Step-by-step:

• Touch down lightly.
• Press slightly, then pull a tiny distance (often down-right).
• Lift cleanly to form a tapered end.

Common mistakes → fixes:

• Big ink blob → reduce pressure; shorten contact time.
• Looks like a short line → shorten the pull; keep it compact.
• Wrong direction → decide the direction before writing; aim toward the character’s center.

Downward-left: 撇 (piě)

What it is: a falling stroke to the left, usually starting heavier and ending lighter.

Start ↙︎  End

Step-by-step:

• Start with a controlled touch.
• Move down-left in one smooth motion.
• Lift gradually to taper the end.

Common mistakes → fixes:

• Too straight (like a vertical) → increase the leftward angle; aim for the lower-left corner of the square.
• Ends blunt → lift earlier and more gradually.
• Too long and dominates → shorten it so it doesn’t hit the outer box unless intended.

Downward-right: 捺 (nà)

What it is: a falling stroke to the right, often with a slightly heavier finish.

Start ↘︎  End

Step-by-step:

• Start controlled (not too heavy).
• Move down-right; keep the angle consistent.
• Finish with a gentle press then stop (a “foot”), then lift.

Common mistakes → fixes:

• Looks like 撇 (wrong direction) → check: does it go to the right? If not, restart.
• Too thin at the end → add a tiny bit of pressure near the finish.
• Overly dramatic flare → reduce the final press; keep the foot small.

Hook: 钩 (gōu)

What it is: a short turn at the end of another stroke (often vertical), changing direction sharply.

│↘︎  or  │←  (small hook at the end)

Step-by-step (common vertical hook):

• Write a vertical stroke downward.
• Near the end, pause briefly (micro-stop).
• Turn quickly into a short hook (often left or up-left), then lift.

Common mistakes → fixes:

• Hook too big → keep it shorter than you think; it’s a detail, not a new main stroke.
• Rounded corner → make a clearer angle by pausing before turning.
• Hook missing → exaggerate the direction change slightly during practice, then reduce.

Rising stroke: 提 (tí)

What it is: a short upward-right stroke, usually light and quick.

Start ↗︎ End

Step-by-step:

• Start lightly.
• Move up-right with a brisk motion.
• Lift at the end to keep it sharp.

Common mistakes → fixes:

• Falls downward (wrong direction) → aim for the upper-right quadrant; watch the end point.
• Too long → keep it compact; it often functions as a small accent.
• Too heavy → reduce pressure; it should feel “lifting.”

3) Guided Practice on Grid Paper (Length, Angle, Start/End)

Use one square per stroke at first. Then combine two strokes per square. The goal is control, not speed.

Practice A: Single-stroke control (7 rows)

For each row, fill 8–12 squares with the same stroke. In every square, mark a tiny “start dot” and “end dot” first (lightly), then connect them.

Practice B: Two-stroke placement (focus on endpoints)

Now use the grid’s center lines. In each square, place the pair so the “weight” stays centered.

• 横 + 竖: write a horizontal across the upper-middle, then a vertical that crosses it near the center (avoid crossing too far left/right).
• 撇 + 捺: start both near the upper center; let them open like a balanced “V” shape (avoid one side much longer).
• 竖 + 钩: keep the hook inside the box; don’t let it touch the border.
• 点 + 提: keep both small; they should feel like accents, not main beams.

Practice C: Angle calibration (same start, different angles)

In one square, place three strokes starting from nearly the same point:

• One 撇 (down-left)
• One 竖 (straight down)
• One 捺 (down-right)

Check that the three endpoints land in three different zones: lower-left, bottom-center, lower-right. If two endpoints land too close, your angles are too similar.

4) Mini-Checklist for Legibility

After each line of practice, pick your best and worst square and check these items:

• Alignment: horizontals share a consistent height; verticals don’t drift.
• Center balance: the character (or stroke group) feels centered in the square, not sliding to a corner.
• Spacing: gaps between strokes are intentional and even; no accidental crowding.
• Proportion: long strokes look purposefully long; short strokes remain clearly short.
• Start/finish clarity: beginnings are controlled; endings are clean (no unintended tails).
• Pressure consistency: similar strokes have similar darkness; avoid random heavy spots.

5) Quick Recognition Drills: Similar Strokes and Shapes

These drills train your eye to notice the differences that matter for reading and writing.

Drill 1: Direction check (撇 vs 捺 vs 提)

Label each stroke by direction only. Look at the endpoint:

• 撇: ends in the lower-left zone.
• 捺: ends in the lower-right zone (often with a slightly heavier finish).
• 提: ends in the upper-right zone (short and rising).

Self-test: Write 12 mixed strokes (4 of each) in random order. Circle any that end in the wrong zone.

Drill 2: Dot vs short stroke (点 vs tiny 横/提)

In many characters, a dot is directional and compact. Compare:

• 点: compact, teardrop-like, minimal travel.
• Short 横: clearly left-to-right, even if short.
• Short 提: clearly rising; the end is higher than the start.

Self-test: Make a 3-column table on paper (点 / 短横 / 短提). Fill 10 examples per column. Then shuffle and see if you can sort them again by eye.

Drill 3: Hook vs no hook (竖 vs 竖钩)

A missing hook can change a component’s identity. Train your eye:

• 竖: ends straight, clean stop.
• 竖钩: ends with a clear direction change (small, sharp).

Self-test: Write 10 verticals; add hooks to exactly 5. Wait 1 minute, then try to identify which 5 have hooks without looking too closely. If you can’t tell quickly, your hooks are too small or inconsistent.

Drill 4: Boxy shapes and “open vs closed” corners

Many characters rely on whether a corner is closed or left open. Practice seeing corners as shapes made from strokes:

• Closed corner: two strokes meet cleanly (like a firm L-shape).
• Open corner: there is a deliberate gap; strokes do not touch.

Self-test: Draw 8 L-shapes in a row: alternate closed, open, closed, open. Keep the gap size consistent in the “open” ones.