皆 meaning and stroke order
All; each and every; in all cases
How to write 皆, stroke by stroke
9 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
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 皆
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- all
- each and every
- in all cases
How 皆 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 白 (white), shared by 21 characters on this site.
How to remember 皆
皆 is 比 (bǐ, side by side) on top of 白 (bái, white). Picture people standing side by side 比 above, all wearing white 白, so everyone is included: all, every.
皆 is a formal, literary word for "all" and works like 都 (dōu) placed before the verb. You mostly meet it in written Chinese and set phrases such as 比比皆是 and 皆大欢喜. Example: 这个结果皆大欢喜。(Zhège jiéguǒ jiēdàhuānxǐ.) Everyone was happy with this result.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes use 皆 in casual speech where 都 (dōu) sounds natural. Saying 我们皆去 sounds stiff, so say 我们都去 instead. Also do not confuse 皆 with 背 (bèi, back), which has 北 on top and 月 below.
Common words with 皆
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 比比皆是 | bǐbǐ-jiēshì | can be found everywhere | HSK 7-9 |
| 皆大欢喜 | Jiēdàhuānxǐ | to everyone's delight and satisfaction |
皆 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 皆
Learning 皆 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 皆
How many strokes are in 皆?
皆 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 皆 mean?
皆 (jiē) means all; each and every; in all cases. A common word with it is 比比皆是 (bǐbǐ-jiēshì), meaning "can be found everywhere".
How do you pronounce 皆?
皆 is pronounced jiē, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 皆?
The radical of 皆 is 白, which carries the idea of "white". Dictionaries list 皆 under this radical.
Is 皆 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 皆 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 皆 and 都?
Both mean "all" and come before the verb. 都 (dōu) is everyday spoken Chinese, while 皆 is classical and formal, used in writing, idioms, and slogans.
Which common characters use 皆 as a part?
皆 appears inside 階 / 阶 (jiē, steps), 楷 (kǎi, model, as in regular script), 谐 (xié, harmonious), and 揩 (kāi, to wipe). Noticing it helps you guess that several of these sound like jiē or kǎi.