入 meaning and stroke order
To enter; to go into; to join; to become a member of; (bound form) to conform to (as in 入時|入时[ru4 shi2])
How to write 入, stroke by stroke
2 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
Meaning of 入
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to enter; to go into
- to join; to become a member of
- (bound form) to conform to (as in 入時|入时[ru4 shi2])
- abbr. for 入聲|入声[ru4 sheng1]
- (on product packaging, after {number n} + {classifier}) containing (n pieces) (from Japanese 入 "iri")
How 入 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. An arrow indicating "enter".
How to remember 入
The etymology hint says 入 is an arrow pointing the way in. Picture its two strokes as an arrowhead pushing down and forward through a doorway, telling you to enter.
入 (rù) is more formal than 进 (jìn) and usually appears inside compounds like 入口 (rùkǒu, entrance), 收入 (shōurù, income) and 加入 (jiārù, to join). You will see it on signs and in written Chinese. Example: 他加入了篮球队。(Tā jiārù le lánqiú duì.) He joined the basketball team.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 入 (rù) with 人 (rén, person) and 八 (bā, eight). In 入 the longer stroke on the right rises to the top and the left stroke leans against it, while in 人 the left stroke is the taller one.
Common words with 入
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 进入 | jìnrù | to enter; to go into | HSK 2 |
| 收入 | shōurù | to take in; income | HSK 2 |
| 入口 | rùkǒu | entrance; to import | HSK 2 |
| 深入 | shēnrù | to penetrate deeply; thorough | HSK 3 |
| 输入 | shūrù | to import; to input | HSK 3 |
| 加入 | jiārù | to become a member; to join | HSK 4 |
| 投入 | tóurù | to throw into; to put into | HSK 4 |
| 列入 | lièrù | to include on a list | HSK 4 |
| 入门 | rùmén | entrance door; to enter a door | HSK 5 |
| 陷入 | xiànrù | to sink into; to get caught up in | HSK 6 |
| 融入 | róngrù | to blend into; to integrate | HSK 6 |
| 出入 | chūrù | to go out and come in; entrance and exit | HSK 6 |
| 入学 | rùxué | to enter a school or college; to go to school for the first time as a child | HSK 6 |
| 入侵 | rùqīn | to invade | HSK 7-9 |
入 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 入
Learning 入 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 入
How many strokes are in 入?
入 is written with 2 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 入 mean?
入 (rù) means to enter; to go into; to join; to become a member of; (bound form) to conform to (as in 入時|入时[ru4 shi2]). A common word with it is 进入 (jìnrù), meaning "to enter; to go into".
How do you pronounce 入?
入 is pronounced rù, in the fourth tone (falling).
Is 入 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 入 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 入 and 进?
Both mean to enter, but 进 (jìn) is the everyday spoken verb, as in 请进 (qǐng jìn, come in). 入 is more formal or written and mostly lives inside fixed words like 入口 and 输入.
Why do I see 入 on snack packaging with a number?
On packaging, a number plus a classifier followed by 入 means the package contains that many pieces, for example 10个入 means 10 pieces inside. This use was borrowed from Japanese.