How to Write 长 (cháng)
Detailed Mastery Guide for 长
The character 长 (Traditional: 長) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Long". In our Level 1 curriculum, we focus on the 8-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 Items & Adjectives, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.
Key Vocabulary
Radical Breakdown
Breaking it down: The character 长 is built on the radical 丿 (radical 4). Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.
Etymology & Origins
Originally a pictograph of a person with long hair, representing length; later extended to mean to grow or a person in charge.
Example Sentence
Simplified: 这条路很长，他是学校的校长。
Zhè tiáo lù hěn cháng, tā shì xuéxiào de xiàozhǎng.
Traditional: 這條路很長，他是學校的校長。
Ze2 tiu4 lou6 han2 coeng4, taa1 si6 hok6 haau6 dik1 haau6 zoeng2.
"This road is very long, and he is the school principal."
Dialect Pronunciation
In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as cháng. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is coeng4. 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 '长'?
Other Characters in Level 1 Unit 8
Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!
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