寫 meaning and stroke order
To write; to draw, to sketch; to compose
How to write 寫, stroke by stroke
15 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 寫
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to write
- used in 寫意|写意[xie4 yi4]
How 寫 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 宀 (roof), shared by 67 characters on this site.
How to remember 寫
寫 has a roof 宀 on top of 舄, a complex component that looks busy and full of strokes. Picture yourself under a roof at a desk, filling a page with many dense strokes as you write.
寫 (xiě) is the traditional form of 写, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. It covers writing characters, composing texts, and describing things in words, as in 寫作 (xiězuò) and 描寫 (miáoxiě). Example: 我在寫信。(Wǒ zài xiě xìn.) I am writing a letter.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up the bottom part 舄 with 烏 or 鳥 because they look alike. The bottom of 寫 has a different top section and ends in four dots, so look closely when copying it.
Common words with 寫
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 聽寫 | tīngxiě | (of a pupil) to write down (in a dictation exercise); dictation; (music) to transcribe by | HSK 1 |
| 寫作 | xiězuò | to write; to compose | HSK 3 |
| 描寫 | miáoxiě | to describe; to depict; to portray; depiction; portrayal | HSK 4 |
| 抄寫 | chāoxiě | to copy; to transcribe | HSK 4 |
| 寫字樓 | xiězìlóu | office building | HSK 6 |
| 寫字檯 | xiězìtái | writing desk | HSK 6 |
| 書寫 | shūxiě | to write | HSK 7-9 |
| 填寫 | tiánxiě | to fill in a form; to write data in a box (on a questionnaire or web form) | HSK 7-9 |
| 編寫 | biānxiě | to compile | HSK 7-9 |
| 撰寫 | zhuànxiě | to write; to compose | HSK 7-9 |
| 寫照 | xiězhào | portrayal | HSK 7-9 |
| 寫信 | xiěxìn | to write a letter | |
| 寫下 | xiěxià | to write down | |
| 寫字 | xiězì | to write (by hand); to practice calligraphy |
Characters that contain 寫
Learning 寫 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 寫
How many strokes are in 寫?
寫 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 寫 mean?
寫 (xiě) means to write; to draw, to sketch; to compose. A common word with it is 听写 (tīngxiě), meaning "(of a pupil) to write down (in a dictation exercise); dictation; (music) to transcribe by ".
How do you pronounce 寫?
寫 is pronounced xiě, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 寫?
The radical of 寫 is 宀, which carries the idea of "roof". Dictionaries list 寫 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 寫?
寫 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 写, used in mainland China and Singapore.
When is 寫 read xiè instead of xiě?
The xiè reading appears in 寫意 (xièyì), a term for a freehand style of Chinese painting that captures the spirit of a subject. In almost every other word, including everyday writing, the reading is xiě.
What does 寫字樓 mean, since it is not a place for writing?
寫字樓 (xiězìlóu) means an office building, especially in Hong Kong and mainland usage. The name comes from the idea of a building where office work, once mostly paperwork, takes place.