如 meaning and stroke order
As; as if; such as
How to write 如, stroke by stroke
6 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
Meaning of 如
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- as
- as if
- such as
How 如 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A wife 女 following her husband's words 口.
Radical: 女 (woman), shared by 156 characters on this site.
How to remember 如
如 puts a woman 女 next to a mouth 口. The traditional explanation is a wife following her husband's words, so she acts "as" he says, which leads to the meanings "as" and "like."
On its own 如 sounds formal or literary, but it appears constantly in everyday words like 如果 (rúguǒ, if), 比如 (bǐrú, for example) and 不如 (bùrú, not as good as). Example: 如果明天下雨，我们就不去了。 (Rúguǒ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù bú qù le.) If it rains tomorrow, we won't go.
Common mistake: Learners often write 好 (hǎo) when they mean 如, since both start with 女. In 如 the right side is a square mouth 口, while in 好 it is 子 (child). Also keep the tone a rising second tone, rú, not rǔ.
Common words with 如
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 如果 | rúguǒ | if; in case; in the event that | HSK 2 |
| 不如 | bùrú | not equal to; not as good as; inferior to; it would be better to | HSK 2 |
| 比如 | bǐrú | for example; for instance; such as | HSK 2 |
| 比如说 | bǐrú shuō | for example | HSK 2 |
| 例如 | lìrú | for example; for instance; such as | HSK 2 |
| 如何 | rúhé | how; what way | HSK 3 |
| 如今 | rújīn | nowadays; now | HSK 4 |
| 假如 | jiǎrú | if | HSK 4 |
| 如此 | rúcǐ | like this; so; such | HSK 5 |
| 正如 | zhèngrú | just as; precisely as | HSK 5 |
| 如同 | rútóng | like; as | HSK 5 |
| 如下 | rúxià | as follows | HSK 5 |
| 如一 | rúyī | consistent; the same | HSK 6 |
| 无论如何 | wúlùn-rúhé | (idiom) whatever the case; in any event; no matter what; by all possible means | HSK 7-9 |
如 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 如
Learning 如 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 如
How many strokes are in 如?
如 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 如 mean?
如 (rú) means as; as if; such as. A common word with it is 如果 (rúguǒ), meaning "if; in case; in the event that".
How do you pronounce 如?
如 is pronounced rú, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 如?
The radical of 如 is 女, which carries the idea of "woman". Dictionaries list 如 under this radical.
Is 如 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 如 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 如果 and 假如?
Both mean "if." 如果 (rúguǒ) is the everyday default in speech and writing. 假如 (jiǎrú) is a bit more formal and often introduces a more hypothetical situation.
How do you use 不如 to compare things?
Use the pattern A 不如 B, which means A is not as good as B. For example, 坐公交不如坐地铁快 (zuò gōngjiāo bùrú zuò dìtiě kuài) means taking the bus is not as fast as taking the subway. 不如 can also suggest an option, like 我们不如回家吧, "we might as well go home."