爾 meaning and stroke order
You; that, those; final particle
How to write 爾, stroke by stroke
14 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 爾
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- thus
- so
- like that
- you
- thou
How 爾 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 爻 (diagrams for divination), shared by 3 characters on this site.
How to remember 爾
爾 (ěr) contains 爻 written twice inside a frame, like a crisscross lattice. Picture pointing through a lattice window at someone and saying "you, over there."
爾 is the traditional form of 尔. In modern Chinese it rarely stands alone and mostly appears in set words and in sound transliterations of foreign names, such as 高爾夫 (gāo'ěrfū) golf. Example: 他偶爾來看我。(Tā ǒu'ěr lái kàn wǒ.) He occasionally comes to see me.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 爾 with 爽 (shuǎng), which also has crossed 爻 shapes but is built around 大. Also note that in 偶爾 (ǒu'ěr) the 爾 keeps its third tone in careful speech, so do not drop it to a neutral tone.
Common words with 爾
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 偶爾 | ǒu'ěr | occasionally; once in a while | HSK 5 |
| 高爾夫球 | gāo'ěrfūqiú | golf; golf ball | HSK 7-9 |
| 摩爾 | Mó'ěr | mole (chemistry) | |
| 高爾夫 | gāo'ěrfū | (loanword) golf | |
| 阿爾法 | ā'ěrfǎ | alpha (Greek letter Α, α) | |
| 荷爾蒙 | hé'ěrméng | (loanword) hormone | |
| 瑞爾 | ruì'ěr | riel (Cambodian currency) | |
| 埃米爾 | āimǐ'ěr | (loanword) emir; amir | |
| 華爾茲 | huá'ěrzī | (loanword) waltz (dance) | |
| 安吉爾 | ānjí'ěr | angel (loanword) | |
| 吉爾達 | jí'ěrdá | gelada (Theropithecus gelada), Ethiopian herbivorous monkey similar to baboon | |
| 爾格 | ěrgé | erg (physics) (loanword) |
Characters that contain 爾
Learning 爾 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 爾
How many strokes are in 爾?
爾 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 爾 mean?
爾 (ěr) means you; that, those; final particle. A common word with it is 偶尔 (ǒu'ěr), meaning "occasionally; once in a while".
How do you pronounce 爾?
爾 is pronounced ěr, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 爾?
The radical of 爾 is 爻, which carries the idea of "diagrams for divination". Dictionaries list 爾 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 爾?
爾 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 尔, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Does 爾 still mean "you" in modern Chinese?
Not in everyday speech. The meaning "you" or "thou" survives in classical texts and fixed phrases, while modern speakers use 你 (nǐ).
Why does 爾 appear in so many foreign words?
Its sound ěr is a convenient match for the "er" or "l" sounds in foreign names. That is why it shows up in loanwords like 荷爾蒙 (hé'ěrméng) hormone and 阿爾法 (ā'ěrfǎ) alpha.