How to Write 笑 (xiào)
Detailed Mastery Guide for 笑
The character 笑 (Traditional: 笑) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Laugh / Smile". In our Level 2 curriculum, we focus on the 10-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.
Writing & Recognition
Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Furniture & Emotions, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.
Key Vocabulary
Radical Breakdown
Breaking it down: The character 笑 is built on the radical 竹 (bamboo), 118. Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.
Etymology & Origins
Phono-semantic compound: Bamboo (竹) + person/young (夭). The bamboo represents the sound of rustling leaves or the shape of a smiling face.
Example Sentence
Simplified: 她看到那则笑话时笑了。
Tā kàndào nà zé xiàohuà shí xiào le.
Traditional: 她看到那則笑話時笑了。
taa1 hon3 dou3 naa5 zak1 siu3 waa6 si4 siu3 liu2.
"She laughed when she saw that joke."
Dialect Pronunciation
In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as xiào. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is siu3. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.
Practice & Retention
To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.
Quick Self-Check
What is the meaning of '笑'?
Other Characters in Level 2 Unit 8
Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!
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