楷 meaning and stroke order
The normal style of Chinese handwriting
How to write 楷, stroke by stroke
13 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
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- 7
- 8
- 9
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- 13
Meaning of 楷
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- Chinese pistachio tree (Pistacia chinensis)
- model
- pattern
- regular script (calligraphic style)
How 楷 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. The script 木 used by commoners 皆.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 楷
楷 combines 木 (mù, tree or wood) with 皆 (jiē, all). Picture a sturdy, straight tree that all (皆) people copy as a model, just as regular script is the standard writing everyone learns.
楷 is mostly used in two words: 楷模 (kǎimó), a role model or example, and 楷体 or 楷书 (kǎishū), regular script in calligraphy and fonts. Example: 他是我们学习的楷模。(Tā shì wǒmen xuéxí de kǎimó.) He is a model for us to learn from.
Common mistake: Learners often read 楷 as jiē because of the 皆 part, but in modern words like 楷模 and 楷体 it is kǎi. The jiē reading is only for the Chinese pistachio tree, which you will rarely see.
Common words with 楷
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 楷模 | kǎimó | model; example | HSK 7-9 |
| 楷体 | kǎitǐ | regular script (Chinese calligraphic style) |
Questions about 楷
How many strokes are in 楷?
楷 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 楷 mean?
楷 (kǎi) means the normal style of Chinese handwriting. A common word with it is 楷模 (kǎimó), meaning "model; example".
How do you pronounce 楷?
楷 is pronounced kǎi, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 楷?
The radical of 楷 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 楷 under this radical.
Is 楷 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 楷 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 楷书 and 行书?
楷书 (kǎishū) is regular script, where each stroke is written clearly and separately. 行书 (xíngshū) is running script, a faster, semi-cursive style where strokes flow together.
Is 楷模 used in everyday conversation?
楷模 sounds fairly formal and is common in news, speeches and awards, such as praising a model worker. In casual talk people more often say 榜样 (bǎngyàng) for a role model.