零 meaning and stroke order
Zero; nought; zero sign
How to write 零, 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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- 10
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- 13
Meaning of 零
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- zero
- nought
- zero sign
- fractional
- fragmentary
- odd (of numbers)
How 零 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Raindrop.
雨 gives the meaning and 令 hints at the sound.
Radical: 雨 (rain), shared by 42 characters on this site.
How to remember 零
零 is rain 雨 on top with 令 (lìng) below giving the sound. Think of single raindrops falling one by one: tiny scattered bits, so small they add up to almost zero.
零 means the number zero and also small, scattered bits, as in 零钱 (língqián, small change) and 零食 (língshí, snacks). In phone numbers, years and prices it is read as líng, and it also fills gaps inside numbers like 一百零五 (yìbǎi líng wǔ, 105). Example: 今天零下五度。(Jīntiān língxià wǔ dù.) It is minus five degrees today.
Common mistake: Learners often drop 零 inside numbers, saying 一百五 for 105, but 一百五 actually means 150, so you need 一百零五. Also watch the bottom part: it is 令 (lìng), not 今 (jīn).
Common words with 零
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 零下 | líng xià | below zero (esp. temperature) | HSK 2 |
| 零食 | língshí | snack; nibbles | HSK 4 |
| 零钱 | língqián | change (of money); small change | HSK 7-9 |
| 零件 | língjiàn | part; component | HSK 7-9 |
| 孤零零 | gūlínglíng | lone; isolated and without help | HSK 7-9 |
| 零花钱 | línghuāqián | pocket money; allowance | HSK 7-9 |
| 零售 | língshòu | to retail; to sell in small quantities | HSK 7-9 |
| 零用钱 | língyòngqián | pocket money; allowance | |
| 零点 | língdiǎn | midnight; to order à la carte | |
| 零号 | línghào | (slang) bottom (in a homosexual relationship) | |
| 零星 | língxīng | fragmentary; piecemeal; in bits and pieces; sporadic; scattered | |
| 凋零 | diāolíng | withered; wilted | |
| 找零 | zhǎolíng | to give change (after a cash transaction); the change (money) given back |
零 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 零
How many strokes are in 零?
零 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 零 mean?
零 (líng) means zero; nought; zero sign. A common word with it is 零下 (líng xià), meaning "below zero (esp. temperature)".
How do you pronounce 零?
零 is pronounced líng, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 零?
The radical of 零 is 雨, which carries the idea of "rain". Dictionaries list 零 under this radical.
Is 零 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 零 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 零 and 〇?
Both are read líng. 〇 is a simple circle used mainly in written dates and number strings, like 二〇二四年. 零 is the standard character used in prices, amounts and general writing.
How do you say zero in a phone number?
Most people say líng for 0, so 102 is read yāo líng èr. In casual speech some people say dòng for 0, but líng is the safe, standard choice.