若 meaning and stroke order
To seem; like; as
How to write 若, stroke by stroke
8 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 若
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to seem
- like
- as
- if
- used in 般若[bo1 re3]
- used in 蘭若|兰若[lan2 re3]
How 若 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 艹 (grass), shared by 421 characters on this site.
How to remember 若
若 is grass 艹 on top of 右 (yòu, right). Picture someone looking at two patches of grass and saying the right one looks just like the left. That links 若 to "like" and "if."
若 is a formal or written word for "if" or "like." In speech people usually say 如果 (rúguǒ) or 像 (xiàng), but 若 is common in set phrases such as 若干 (ruògān) and 若无其事 (ruòwúqíshì). Example: 他若无其事地走了。(Tā ruòwúqíshì de zǒu le.) He walked off as if nothing had happened.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 若 with 苦 (kǔ, bitter), which also has 艹 on top but 古 below instead of 右. Check the bottom part: 若 has the 口 tucked under a slanted stroke, like in 右.
Common words with 若
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 倘若 | tǎngruò | if; supposing; in case | HSK 7-9 |
| 若干 | ruògān | a certain number or amount; how many? | HSK 7-9 |
| 受宠若惊 | shòuchǒngruòjīng | overwhelmed by favor from superior (humble expr.) | |
| 若无其事 | ruòwúqíshì | (idiom) as if nothing had happened; calm and composed; nonchalant | |
| 欣喜若狂 | xīnxǐruòkuáng | to be wild with joy (idiom) | |
| 若非 | ruòfēi | were it not for; if not for | |
| 如若 | rúruò | if |
若 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 若
Learning 若 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 若
How many strokes are in 若?
若 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 若 mean?
若 (ruò) means to seem; like; as. A common word with it is 倘若 (tǎngruò), meaning "if; supposing; in case".
How do you pronounce 若?
若 is pronounced ruò, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 若?
The radical of 若 is 艹, which carries the idea of "grass". Dictionaries list 若 under this radical.
Is 若 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 若 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
When is 若 pronounced rě instead of ruò?
Only in a few Buddhist borrowed words, such as 般若 (bōrě, wisdom) and 兰若 (lánrě, a temple). Everywhere else, say ruò.
Can I use 若 instead of 如果 in everyday conversation?
You can, but it will sound bookish or literary. In casual speech, 如果 (rúguǒ) or 要是 (yàoshi) is more natural, while 若 and 倘若 (tǎngruò) fit writing and formal speech.