撰 meaning and stroke order
To compose, to write
How to write 撰, 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 撰
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to compose
- to compile
- variant of 撰[zhuan4]
How 撰 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 巽 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 撰
撰 is a hand 扌 beside 巽 (xùn), which gives the sound. Picture a hand at work putting words in order to compose a text.
撰 is formal and mostly appears in compounds about writing articles, reports, or books. The most common one is 撰写 (zhuànxiě). Example: 她正在撰写一篇论文。(Tā zhèngzài zhuànxiě yī piān lùnwén.) She is writing a thesis.
Common mistake: Learners often read 撰 as xùn because of the phonetic part 巽, but the correct reading is zhuàn with a fourth tone. Also avoid using 撰 for everyday writing like a text message. Use 写 (xiě) there.
Common words with 撰
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 撰写 | zhuànxiě | to write; to compose | HSK 7-9 |
| 杜撰 | dùzhuàn | to fabricate; to make sth up |
撰 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 撰
How many strokes are in 撰?
撰 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 撰 mean?
撰 (zhuàn) means to compose, to write. A common word with it is 撰写 (zhuànxiě), meaning "to write; to compose".
How do you pronounce 撰?
撰 is pronounced zhuàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 撰?
The radical of 撰 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 撰 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 撰?
The traditional form of 撰 is 譔. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 撰 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 撰 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 撰 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 撰写 and 写?
写 (xiě) is the everyday word for any kind of writing. 撰写 (zhuànxiě) is formal and used for composing serious texts such as articles, reports, or books.
What does 杜撰 mean and is it negative?
杜撰 (dùzhuàn) means to fabricate or make something up, like a story or facts with no basis. It usually carries a negative tone, for example 这个故事是他杜撰的 (zhège gùshi shì tā dùzhuàn de), meaning he made this story up.