习 meaning and stroke order
To study, to practice; habit
How to write 习, stroke by stroke
3 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Meaning of 习
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to practice
- to study
- habit
- custom
How 习 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 冫 (ice), shared by 26 characters on this site.
How to remember 习
习 looks like a hook-shaped frame with the two ice strokes of 冫 tucked inside. Picture writing those two little strokes again and again until your hand learns them, which is what practice means.
习 (xí) is a bound form, so it almost always appears inside words like 学习 (xuéxí), 练习 (liànxí), 复习 (fùxí) and 习惯 (xíguàn). Example: 我每天学习中文。(Wǒ měitiān xuéxí Zhōngwén.) I study Chinese every day.
Common mistake: Learners often write the two inner strokes like 氵 or add a third dot. 习 has only two short strokes inside the hook frame. Also, 习 is second tone (xí), so don't say it with the fourth-tone xì of 系 or 细.
Common words with 习
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 学习 | xuéxí | to learn; to study | HSK 1 |
| 习惯 | xíguàn | habit; custom | HSK 2 |
| 练习 | liànxí | to practice; exercise | HSK 2 |
| 实习 | shíxí | to practice; field work | HSK 2 |
| 复习 | fùxí | to review; revision | HSK 2 |
| 预习 | yùxí | to prepare a lesson | HSK 3 |
| 补习 | bǔxí | to take extra lessons in a cram school or with a private tutor | HSK 6 |
| 演习 | yǎnxí | (military, firefighting etc) (verb and noun) drill; exercise; maneuver | HSK 7-9 |
| 习俗 | xísú | custom; tradition | HSK 7-9 |
| 温习 | wēnxí | to review (a lesson etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 实习生 | shíxíshēng | intern (esp. a student in practical training) | |
| 见习 | jiànxí | to learn on the job; to be on probation | |
| 恶习 | èxí | bad habit; vice | |
| 补习班 | bǔxíbān | cram class; cram school |
习 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 习
Learning 习 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 习
How many strokes are in 习?
习 is written with 3 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 习 mean?
习 (xí) means to study, to practice; habit. A common word with it is 学习 (xuéxí), meaning "to learn; to study".
How do you pronounce 习?
习 is pronounced xí, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 习?
The radical of 习 is 冫, which carries the idea of "ice". Dictionaries list 习 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 习?
The traditional form of 习 is 習. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 习 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 习 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 习 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 学习 and 练习?
学习 (xuéxí) is general studying or learning something new. 练习 (liànxí) means practicing a skill you already know to get better, and it can also mean an exercise, like homework exercises.
How do I say I am used to something with 习?
Use 习惯 (xíguàn) as a verb. For example, 我习惯了这里的天气。(Wǒ xíguàn le zhèlǐ de tiānqì.) means I have gotten used to the weather here.