單 meaning and stroke order
Single, individual, only; lone
How to write 單, stroke by stroke
12 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
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Meaning of 單
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- bill
- list
- form
- single
- only
- sole
- used in 單于|单于[chan2 yu2]
How 單 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 口 (mouth), shared by 428 characters on this site.
How to remember 單
單 has two mouths 口口 sitting on top of the rest of the character. Picture two mouths reading out one single list, like a waiter reading a 菜單 (càidān) menu.
單 is the traditional form of 单, and it appears in words about lists and forms as well as in words meaning single or simple. Common examples are 名單 (míngdān) list of names, 簡單 (jiǎndān) simple, and 單獨 (dāndú) alone. Example: 請給我菜單。(Qǐng gěi wǒ càidān.) Please give me the menu.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 單 with 戰 (zhàn, war), which contains 單 on the left. Another trap is 簡單 (jiǎndān): the second syllable is first tone dān, not a neutral or falling tone.
Common words with 單
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 名單 | míngdān | list of names | HSK 2 |
| 單位 | dānwèi | unit (of measure); unit (group of people as a whole) | HSK 2 |
| 菜單 | càidān | menu | HSK 2 |
| 簡單 | jiǎndān | simple; not complicated | HSK 3 |
| 單元 | dānyuán | unit (forming an entity); element | HSK 3 |
| 單獨 | dāndú | alone; by oneself | HSK 4 |
| 單純 | dānchún | simple; pure | HSK 4 |
| 單調 | dāndiào | monotonous | HSK 4 |
| 單一 | dānyī | single; only | HSK 5 |
| 單打 | dāndǎ | singles (in sports) | HSK 6 |
| 孤單 | gūdān | lone; lonely | HSK 7-9 |
| 單身 | dānshēn | unmarried; single; alone | HSK 7-9 |
| 清單 | qīngdān | list of items | HSK 7-9 |
| 賬單 | zhàngdān | bill | HSK 7-9 |
Characters that contain 單
Learning 單 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 單
How many strokes are in 單?
單 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 單 mean?
單 (dān) means single, individual, only; lone. A common word with it is 名单 (míngdān), meaning "list of names".
How do you pronounce 單?
單 is pronounced dān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 單?
The radical of 單 is 口, which carries the idea of "mouth". Dictionaries list 單 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 單?
單 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 单, used in mainland China and Singapore.
When is 單 pronounced chán instead of dān?
The reading chán is used in 單于 (chányú), an old title for the chief of the Xiongnu people. In almost every other word you will meet, it is read dān.
What does 單位 (dānwèi) mean in everyday conversation?
Besides meaning a unit of measure, 單位 often refers to your workplace or the organization you belong to. People may ask 你在哪個單位工作？(Nǐ zài nǎge dānwèi gōngzuò?) to mean Where do you work?