The Most Difficult Chinese Character to Write, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the character you think is the most difficult!
Updated on May 1, 2024 06:23
Mastering the art of Chinese calligraphy involves facing the challenge of writing some notoriously tricky characters. These characters often comprise numerous strokes and complex structures that can be daunting to learners at all levels. To assist in identifying which ones pose the greatest difficulties, compiling a list by popular vote could serve as a beneficial resource.
By participating in ranking these challenging characters, users not only aid others in recognizing which characters require extra practice but also contribute to a communal learning tool. This process enables a collaborative environment where insights and experiences are shared, thereby easing the learning curve for many. Your input can significantly shape this valuable resource, guiding the focus of educational efforts where they're needed most.
What Is the Most Difficult Chinese Character to Write?
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182votesThis character is considered one of the most complex in the Chinese language, consisting of 56 strokes. It is so difficult to write that it is often used as a test of calligraphy skills.The Biáng (餅) character is a complex Chinese character that is considered one of the most difficult to write. Its structure is visually intricate, consisting of 58 strokes and 42 different radicals.
- Strokes: 58
- Radicals: 42
- Complexity: High
- Difficulty: Very difficult
- Unique: Yes
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230votesThis character means "book" and consists of 10 strokes. The difficulty lies in writing the strokes in the correct order and maintaining the correct proportions.The Chinese character 'Shū (書)' is considered one of the most difficult characters to write due to its complex composition and stroke order. It represents the concept of writing or books in Chinese. The character is visually intricate and requires careful attention to details while writing.
- Number of strokes: 10
- Radical: 曰
- Total stroke types: 4
- Top radical stroke order: 1, 2, 3
- Bottom radical stroke order: 1, 2, 3
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317votesThis character means "talent" and consists of only three strokes. However, the order and direction of the strokes can be confusing, leading to mistakes.The Chinese character 'Cǎi (才)' is considered one of the most difficult characters to write due to its complex structure and number of strokes. It consists of eight strokes in total and requires precise hand movements and control to accurately recreate. The character represents the idea of talent, ability, or capability.
- Character Radical: 扌(hand radical)
- Total Strokes: 8
- Radical Strokes: 3
- Additional Strokes: 5
- Stroke Order: 7-2-2-2-2-1-1-1
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415votesThis character means "ten" and consists of only two strokes. However, the strokes must be perfectly straight and of equal length, making it difficult to write neatly.Shí (十) is one of the most basic Chinese characters, representing the number ten. It is composed of one horizontal stroke.
- Stroke Count: 1
- Radical: 一 (Yī)
- Pinyin Pronunciation: Shí
- Simplified Chinese: 十
- Traditional Chinese: 十
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521votesThis character means "thunder" and consists of 13 strokes. The difficulty lies in writing the intricate details of the character, which can be challenging to get right.The Chinese character 'Léi' (雷) is considered one of the most difficult characters to write due to its complexity and stroke count. It represents the meaning 'thunder' and is used to refer to the natural phenomenon of thunder and lightning.
- Character Type: Simplified Chinese
- Radical: 雨 (Rain)
- Stroke Count: 13
- Composition: The character 'Léi' (雷) is composed of several complex components, including '雨' (rain), '田' (field), and '囧' (a character representing a face with a frowning expression).
- Writing Order: The character is commonly written from left to right, top to bottom.
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68votesThis character means "bamboo" and consists of six strokes. The difficulty lies in the order and direction of the strokes, which can be confusing.Zhú (竹) is a Chinese character that means 'bamboo'. It is considered one of the most difficult characters to write due to its intricate strokes and complex structure.
- Stroke count: 10
- Radicals: 3
- Total strokes: 20
- Inner structure: Complex
- Usage frequency: High
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75votesThis character means "justice" and consists of 13 strokes. The difficulty lies in the intricate details of the character, including the three different radical components.The Chinese character 'Yì (義)' is considered one of the most difficult characters to write due to its complex structure and numerous strokes. It is a traditional Chinese character that represents the concept of 'righteousness' or 'justice'.
- Stroke count: 13
- Radicals: 羊 (yáng) and 我 (wǒ)
- Components: 羊, 我, 吾, ⺲, 页, and 丶
- Simplified form: 义
- Traditional form: 義
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87votesThis character means "wind" and consists of 12 strokes. The difficulty lies in the order and direction of the strokes, which must be precise to create the correct shape.The Chinese character Fēng (風) is considered one of the most difficult characters to write due to its complex structure and strokes. It is often regarded as a challenge even for experienced calligraphers.
- Number of Strokes: 24
- Radical: 風 (fēng)
- Pinyin Pronunciation: Fēng
- Simplified Version: 风
- Traditional Version: 風
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97votesThis character means "musical instrument" and consists of 12 strokes. The difficulty lies in the intricate details of the character, which can be hard to get right.The Chinese character 'Qīn' (琴) is a complex character that represents a musical instrument called a 'qin'. It is a stringed instrument with a history that can be traced back over 3,000 years. The character itself is intricately designed and requires careful strokes to create its elegant appearance.
- Stroke count: 17
- Number of components: 13
- Radicals: 王 (wáng) radical, 玉 (yù) radical
- Traditional form: 琴
- Simplified form: 琴
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1014votesThis character means "middle" and consists of four strokes. The difficulty lies in the order and direction of the strokes, which must be perfectly balanced to create the character's symmetrical shape.Zhōng (中) is one of the most difficult Chinese characters to write. It consists of five strokes and is a fundamental character in the Chinese language. It represents the concept of 'center' or 'middle' and has various meanings such as 'in', 'within', 'China', and 'Chinese'.
- Character Type: Ideogram
- Strokes: 5
- Radical: 丨(gǔn)
- Pinyin Pronunciation: Zhōng
- Simplified Version: 中
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Ranking factors for difficult character
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Stroke CountThe number of individual strokes used in a character is a significant indication of its complexity. Characters with a higher stroke count usually take longer to write and demand greater precision.
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Stroke OrderCorrect stroke order is essential for character recognition and is often strictly followed. Complex characters can involve numerous strokes, which may need to be made in a precise order, complicating the writing process.
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Component Parts (Radicals)Many Chinese characters are composed of a combination of simpler parts or radicals. Writing a character with multiple components may be more difficult, especially when some of these parts are intricate themselves.
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Similarity to Other CharactersSome complex characters are difficult to write because they closely resemble other characters, which can lead to confusion and mistakes.
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Frequency of UseCharacters that are seldom used in daily communication or writing may be challenging due to lack of familiarity and practice.
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Phonetic and Semantic ElementsCharacters that have a complexity in the combination of their phonetic and semantic components can be more difficult to write. Understanding the relationship between the sound and meaning of a character can sometimes aid in writing it correctly.
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Calligraphic VariationsSome characters have multiple, equally accepted variants with slight differences in their stroke compositions. This can add on to their difficulty when trying to learn or write these characters accurately.
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Historical EvolutionCharacters that have undergone significant changes in their structure and appearance over time may be more difficult to write, as the learner has to consider both the historical and modern forms.
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Cultural ContextSome characters may have unique cultural or historical significance, which may render them more difficult in terms of their associations, interpretations, and usage.
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Personal Experience and ProficiencyWriting complexity can also be subjective, as some people may find certain characters easier to write than others due to their individual experiences or level of Chinese language proficiency.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult Chinese character to write. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or character is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1633 views
- 210 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each character once every 24 hours. The rank of each character is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most difficult chinese character to write
Background Information: What Makes Chinese Characters Difficult to Write?
Chinese characters are one of the oldest writing systems in the world, with a history that spans over 3,000 years. They are composed of intricate strokes and components, each with its own meaning and pronunciation. While their beauty and complexity have been admired by many, the difficulty of writing them cannot be denied.
One of the reasons why Chinese characters are difficult to write is their sheer number. There are over 50,000 characters in the Chinese language, and while only about 20,000 are commonly used, mastering even a fraction of them can take years of practice.
Another challenge is the stroke order. Unlike alphabetic writing systems, Chinese characters are written stroke by stroke, with a specific order that must be followed. Getting the order wrong can result in a different character altogether, which can be frustrating for learners.
Additionally, some Chinese characters are simply more complex than others. They may have more strokes, or require intricate connections between strokes. For example, the character for "dragon" (龍) has 16 strokes, while the character for "mountain" (山) has only three.
Overall, writing Chinese characters is a challenging feat that requires dedication, patience, and a deep understanding of the language's history and culture.
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