How to Write 手 (shǒu)
Detailed Mastery Guide for 手
The character 手 (Traditional: 手) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Hand". In our Level 1 curriculum, we focus on the 4-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 Human Body, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.
Key Vocabulary
Radical Breakdown
Breaking it down: The character 手 is built on the radical 手 (hand), radical 64. Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.
Etymology & Origins
A pictograph showing a human hand with fingers and a palm.
Example Sentence
Simplified: 他手里拿着一本书。
Tā shǒulǐ názhe yī běn shū.
Traditional: 他手裡拿著一本書。
Taa1 sau2 leoi5 naa4 zoek2 jat1 bun2 syu1.
"He is holding a book in his hand."
Dialect Pronunciation
In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as shǒu. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is sau2. 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 '手'?
Other Characters in Level 1 Unit 3
Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!
We built this site to ensure everyone has access to free stroke order visualizers without annoying paywalls or trial limits. If you find it helpful, supporting us on Ko-fi helps keep the site running!
☕ Support Us on Ko-fi