宋 meaning and stroke order
The Song dynasty; surname
How to write 宋, stroke by stroke
7 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
How 宋 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A building 宀 made out of wood 木.
Radical: 宀 (roof), shared by 67 characters on this site.
How to remember 宋
宋 shows a roof 宀 over wood 木, a building made out of wood. Picture an elegant wooden hall from the Song dynasty, an era famous for its fine architecture and culture.
宋 is mostly used for the Song dynasty (960 to 1279), as a common surname, and in font names like 宋体 (sòngtǐ). Example: 他姓宋。(Tā xìng Sòng.) His surname is Song.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 宋 (sòng) with 呆 (dāi) or 采 (cǎi) because all contain 木, but only 宋 has the roof 宀 on top. Also do not mix up the tone with 送 (sòng, to give), which sounds the same but means something completely different.
Common words with 宋
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 宋体 | sòngtǐ | Mincho; Song font | |
| 仿宋 | fǎngSòng | imitation Song dynasty typeface; Fangsong font |
宋 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 宋
How many strokes are in 宋?
宋 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 宋 mean?
宋 (sòng) means the Song dynasty; surname. A common word with it is 宋体 (sòngtǐ), meaning "Mincho; Song font".
How do you pronounce 宋?
宋 is pronounced sòng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 宋?
The radical of 宋 is 宀, which carries the idea of "roof". Dictionaries list 宋 under this radical.
Is 宋 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 宋 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 宋朝 and 宋代?
Both refer to the Song dynasty. 宋朝 (Sòngcháo) stresses the dynasty as a ruling state, while 宋代 (Sòngdài) stresses the historical period. In everyday speech they are often used interchangeably.
Why is a font called 宋体 (sòngtǐ)?
The style comes from printed books of the Song dynasty, which used carved woodblocks. Today 宋体 is the standard serif-like font for printed Chinese text, similar to Times New Roman in English.