Stroke (CJKV character)
永, a Chinese character with a high variety of strokes.
CJKV strokes are the calligraphic strokes needed to write the Chinese characters in regular script used in
East Asia. CJK strokes are the classified set of line patterns that may be arranged and combined to form
Chinese characters (also known as Hanzi) in use in China, Japan, Korea, and to a lesser extent in Vietnam.
Purpose
The study and classification of CJK strokes aid in:
1. understanding Chinese character calligraphy - the correct method of writing, shape formation and
stroke order;
2. understanding stroke changes according to the style that is in use;
3. defining stroke naming and counting conventions;
4. identifying fundamental components of Han radicals; and
5. their use in computing.
Formation
When writing Han radicals, a single stroke includes all the motions necessary to produce a given part of a
character before lifting the writing instrument from the writing surface; thus, a single stroke may have
abrupt changes in direction within the line. For example:
(Shù) is classified as a basic stroke because it is a single stroke that forms a line moving in one
direction.
(Shù Zhé Zhé) is classified as a compound stroke because it is a single stroke that forms a line
that includes one or more abrupt changes in direction. This example is a sequence of three basic
strokes written without lifting the writing instrument from the writing surface.
Types
CJK strokes are an attempt to identify and classify all single-stroke components that can be used to write
Han radicals. There are some thirty distinct types of strokes recognized in Chinese characters, some of
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which are compound strokes made from basic strokes. The compound strokes comprise more than one
movement of the writing instrument, and many of these have no agreed-upon name.
Basic strokes
A basic stroke is a single calligraphic mark moving in one direction across a writing surface. The following
table lists a selection of basic strokes divided into two stroke groups: simple and combining. "Simple
strokes" (such as Héng "Horizontal" and Diǎn "Dot") can be written alone. "Combining strokes" (such as
Zhé "Break" and Gōu "Hook") never occur alone, but must be paired with at least one other stroke forming a
compound stroke. Thus, they are not in themselves individual strokes.
Table of basic strokes
Name Translation
CJK Additional
(pinyin, of Chinese
trad./simp.)
stroke description
name
Simple strokes
Diǎn, 點/点 "Dot" Tiny dash, speck
Héng, 横 "Horizontal" Rightward stroke
Shù, 豎/竖 "Vertical" Downward stroke
Tí, 提 "Rise" Flick up and rightwards
Nà, 捺 "Press down" Falling rightwards (fattening at the bottom)
Piě, 撇 "Throw away" Falling leftwards (with slight curve)
Combining strokes
Indicates change in stroke direction, usually 90° turn, going
Zhé, 折 n/a "Break"
down or going right only.
Appended to other strokes, suddenly going down or going left
Gōu, 鉤/钩 "Hook"
only.
A tapering thinning curve, usually concave left (convex outward
Wān, 彎/弯 "Bend"
right).
Xié, 斜 "Slant" Curved line, usually concave right (convex outward left).
Note, the basic stroke Diǎn "Dot" is rarely a real dot. Instead it usually takes the shape of a very small line
pointing in one of several directions, and may be long enough to be confused with other strokes.
Compound strokes
Another classification showing 37 strokes: 8 basic strokes, and 29 complex strokes.[1]
A compound stroke (also called a complex stroke) is produced when two or more basic strokes are
combined in a single stroke written without lifting the writing instrument from the writing surface. The
character 永 (pinyin: yǒng) "eternity" described in more detail below demonstrates one of these compound
strokes. The centre line is a compound stroke that combines three stroke shapes in a single stroke.
Basics for making compound strokes[2]
In most cases, concatenating basic strokes together form a compound stroke. For example, Shù combined
with Gōu produce (Shù Gōu). A stroke naming convention sums the names of the basic strokes, in the
writing order.
2
An exception to this applies when a stroke makes a turn of 90° (and only of 90°). Horizontal (Héng) and
Vertical (Shù) strokes are identified only once when they appear as the first stroke of a compound; any
single stroke with successive 90° turns down or to the right are indicated by a 折 (pinyin: Zhé) "Break". For
example, an initial Shù followed by an abrupt turn right produces (Shù Zhé). In the same way, an initial
Shù followed by an abrupt turn right followed by a second turn down produces (Shù Zhé Zhé).
Nearly all complex strokes can be named using this simple scheme.
Nomenclature
Organization systems used to describe and differentiate strokes may include the use of roman letters,
Chinese characters, numbers, or a combination of these devices. Two methods of organizing CJK strokes are
by:
1. Classification schemes that describe strokes by a naming convention or by conformity to a
taxonomy; and
2. Categorization schemes that differentiate strokes by numeric or topical grouping.
In classification schemes, stroke forms are described, assigned a representative character or letterform, and
may be arranged in a hierarchy. In categorization schemes, stroke forms are differentiated, sorted and
grouped into like categories; categories may be topical, or assigned by a numeric or alpha-numeric nominal
number according to a designed numbering scheme.
Benefits
Organizing strokes into a hierarchy aids a user's understanding by bringing order to an obtuse system of
writing that has organically evolved over the period of centuries. In addition, the process of recognizing and
describing stroke patterns promotes consistency of stroke formation and usage. When organized by naming
convention, classification allows a user to find a stroke quickly in a large stroke collection, makes it easier to
detect duplication, and conveys meaning when comparing relationships between strokes. When organized by
numbering scheme, categorization aids a user in understanding stroke differences, and makes it easier to
make predictions, inferences and decisions about a stroke.
Limitations
Strokes are described and differentiated using the criteria of visual qualities of a stroke. Because this can
require subjective interpretation, CJK strokes cannot be placed into a single definitive classification scheme
because stroke types lack a universal consensus on the description and number of basic and compound
forms. CJK strokes cannot be placed into a single definitive categorization scheme due to visual ambiguity
between strokes, and therefore cannot be segregated into mutually-exclusive groups. Other factors inhibiting
organization based on visual criteria is the variation of writing styles, and the changes of appearance that a
stroke undergoes within various characters.
Roman letter naming convention
A naming convention is a classification scheme where a controlled vocabulary is used systematically to
describe the characteristics of an item. The naming convention for a CJK stroke is derived from the path
mark left by the writing instrument. In this instance roman letters are concatenated to form a stroke name is
a sequence of one or more roman letters indicating the component strokes used to create the CJK stroke. The
first letter of the Han radical’s pinyin pronunciation represents each basic stroke. In a basic stroke example,
3
H represents the stroke named 横 (pinyin: Héng); in a compound example, HZT represents 横折提
(pinyin: Héng Zhé Tí).
While no consensus exists, there are up to 12 distinct basic strokes that are identified by a unique Han
radical.
Letters commonly used in CJK stroke naming conventions[3]
Letter B D G H N P Q S T W X Z
Stroke
direction
Trad./sim
扁 點/点 鉤/钩 横 捺 撇 圈/圏 豎/竖 提 彎/弯 斜 折
p.
Pinyin Biǎn Diǎn Gōu Héng Nà
Piě Quān Shù Tí Wān Xié Zhé
"Thro
"Hook "Horizontal "Press "Circle "Vertical "Bend "Slant "Break
Meaning "Flat" "Dot" w "Rise"
" " down" " " " " "
away"
There are a many CJK compound strokes, however there is no consensus for sequence letter naming of
compound strokes using the basic strokes. The following table demonstrates the CJK stroke naming
convention:
Selected named CJK basic and compound strokes
Section
Simple ideogram[5]
header Example
Stroke Name[4] zhǐ shì Dictionary meaning
bùshǒu characters
(指事)
(部首)
yī, "horizon"; 一 yī, "cardinal number one",
simplified form of 弌 Radical 1 一 "alone"; dash 破折号 二三丁丞丈
H 世不上十卅
yī, "outstretched yī, "one" pòzhéhào, "Chinese 七
finger" punctuation dash"
Variant form 乛 wān, ya, zhé (折) turning 疋 了 危 予 矛
HG 子字令疏写
of 乙 yǐ stroke/to break 冖
口囗己田品
HZ
吕申甲圆巪
Variant form 羽习包勻葡
HZG 用青甫勺月
of 乙 yǐ
也乜
HZT 讠计鳩
HZZ 凹卍
HZZZ 凸
yùn pregnant woman 𠄎 nǎi, archaic form of 乃
HZZZG (swollen breasts and "then", "really, indeed", 乃孕仍
stomach); compare 乃 "namely", "you, your"
HZZP 建及
又水夕径炙
HP 双叒今
HPW[1]
HPWG 阝队邮
4
HZW 殳投朵
HZWG 飞风瘋九几
气虱
yǐ suggesting efforts 乙 yǐ, niè, "the second of the
[3]
HXWG of a sprouting seed; Radical 5 乙 ten heavenly stems", "second";
氹乞乤芸
(HZWG) yàn representing a yǐ, "second" zhé (折) turning stroke/to
bird's call break
HXG
Variant form 飞风迅九几
(HWG,[1] 乁 yí, "to move" (archaic)
of 丿 piě 凬气虱
HZWG[3])
BXG 心必沁惢蕊
Radical 2 丨
gǔn, 丩中串讧乍
S gěn vertical things 丨 gě, "vertical line"
"vertical 上五丑
stroke"
亅 jué, "a vertical line with a
Radical 6 亅
SG hook", usually read as 竖勾 爭事求水
jué, "hook"
shùgōu
以比切卯食
juē pictograph of a
ST 良艮很狠鄉
hook
民
断陋继山互
SZ
彙牙乐东
SZZ 亞鼎卐吳专
SZZG[1] 亏强弓丏丐
(SZWG[6]) 与马鸟丂号
SZZWG[1]
弓丐
(SZZG)
SW 區亡妄四
SW [横左
héng zuǒ,
肅嘯蕭簫
"horizontal
left"][7]
乚 yǐn, "hidden",
Variant form
SWG "mysterious", "small", usually 乱 己 已 巳
of 乙 yǐ
read as 隱/隐 yǐn
乃月用齊几
SP 人班大
SZP 专𧦮𤓷𤦡
W[1] 豕
狐狱豹家啄
WG
嶽 貓 家 逐, 乙
piě, a falling line
suggesting motion; yì Radical 4 丿 乂爻禾毛乏
P 丿 piě, "line"
suggestion dragging piě, "slash" 乖釆衣八行
motion
PG 乄
PZ 弘玄公厶翁
5
See also:
See also: 巜 guì, "river" 女巛巡獵災
PD Radical 47
(archaic) 甾
巛
PN 是走廴
大人天入走
N
边廷尺
XG 戈弋戰我
冰淋病孑治
T Usually read as 趯 tì, "jump" 冶冽暴氾录
地虫
TPN 辶之辷
Variant form 尐之道八入
TN 乀 fú, "stretch"
of 丿 piě 廻
zhǔ pictograph of
Radical 3 丶 丶 zhǔ, "dot", usually read as 丸 叉 义 永 冰
D flame (主 = lamp and 凡丹主求火
zhǔ, "dot" 點/点 diǎn
flame) 刃
DN 入
〇 líng, "zero"; full stop (。)
句號/句号 jùhào, "Chinese
Q punctuation full stop (period)"; 〇 㔔 㪳 㫈
may be read as 圈 quān,
"circle"[7]
Numbering scheme
A numbering scheme is a categorization method where like-item strokes are grouped into categories labeled
by nominal numbers. Category numbering may be an index of numbers of types, with sub-types indicated by
decimal point followed by another number or a letter.[4]
The following table is a common numbering scheme that uses similar names as the roman letter naming
convention, but the stroke forms are grouped into major category types (1 to 5), which further break down
into 25 sub-types in category 5.
Example of a CJK stroke numbering scheme[8]
Name Name
No. Stroke
No. Stroke (simplified Chinese and (simplified Chinese and pinyin)
pinyin) Turning stroke (折 Zhé = right angle turn) or (弯 Wān =
Horizontal (一) curve turn)
1 横 Héng 5.1 横折 Héng Zhé
提 Tì 5.2 横撇 Héng Piě
Vertical (丨) 5.3 横钩 Héng Gōu
2 竖 Shù
5.4 竖折 Shù Zhé
竖钩 Shù Gōu
5.5 竖弯 Shù Wān
Slash (丿)
3 撇 Piě 5.6 竖提 Shù Tì
6
撇钩 Piě Gōu 5.7 撇横 Piě Zhé
Dot (丶) 5.8 撇点 Piě Diǎn
4 点 Diǎn
5.9 撇钩 Piě Gōu
捺 Nà
5.10 弯钩 Wān Gōu
提捺 Tì Nà
5.11 斜钩 Xié Gōu
5.12 横折折 Héng Zhé Zhé
5.13 横折弯 Héng Zhé Wān
5.14 横折提 Héng Zhé Tì
5.15 横折钩 Héng Zhé Gōu
5.16 横斜钩 Héng Xié Gōu
5.17 竖折折 Shù Zhé Zhé
5.18 竖折撇 Shù Zhé Piě
5.19 竖弯钩 Shù Wān Gōu
5.20 横折折折 Héng Zhé Zhé Zhé
5.21 横折折撇 Héng Zhé Zhé Piě
5.22 横折弯钩 Héng Zhé Wān Gōu
5.23 横撇弯钩 Héng Piě Wān Gōu
5.24 竖折折钩 Shù Zhé Zhé Gōu
5.25 横折折折钩 Héng Zhé Zhé Zhé Gōu
Stroke order
Main article: Stroke order
Stroke order refers to the order in which the strokes of a Chinese character are written. A stroke is a
movement of a writing instrument on a writing surface. Because most Chinese characters have many
strokes, certain stroke orders guidelines are recommended to ensure speed, accuracy, and legibility in
composition. Also, teachers enforce exactly one stroke order for each character, marking every deviation as
a mistake, so everyone writes these characters the same way. The stroke order follows a few simple rules,
though, which aids in memorizing these. To write CJK characters, one must know how to write CJK strokes,
and thus, needs to identify the basic strokes that make up a character.
Eight Principles of Yong
Main article: Eight Principles of Yong
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The Eight Principles of Yong explain how to write eight common strokes in regular script which are found
all in the one character, 永 (pinyin: yǒng, "forever", "permanence"). It was traditionally believed that the
frequent practice of these principles as a beginning calligrapher could ensure beauty in one's writing.
Eight basic strokes[2]
Eight principle strokes extracted from 永, "eternity" (five basic strokes: D, T, W, P, N and one compound
stroke HZG). Enlarge this image to see the red arrows, showing the way of writing of each.
－ the Diǎn 點/点, is a dot, filled from the top, to the bottom, traditionally made by "couching"
the brush on the page.
－ the Héng 横, is horizontal, filled from left to right, the same way the Latin letters A, B,C,D
are written.
－ the Shù 豎/竖, is vertical-falling. The brush begins by a dot on top, then falls downward.
－ the Gōu 鉤/钩, ending another stroke, is a sharp change of direction either down (after a
Heng) or left (after a Shù).
－ the Tí 提, is a flick up and rightwards
－ the Wān 彎/弯, follows a concave path on the left or on the right
－ the Piě 撇, is a falling leftwards (with a slight curve)
－ the Nà 捺, is falling rightwards (with an emphasis at the end of the stroke)
(+ － the Xié 斜 is sometimes added to the 永's strokes. It's a concave Shù falling right, always
ended by a Gōu, visible on this image).
(
Use in computing
Main article: CJK Strokes (Unicode block)
The stroke count method is based on the order of strokes to input characters on Chinese mobile phones.
As part of Chinese character encoding, there have been several proposals to encode the CJK strokes, most of
time with a total around 35~40 entries. Most notable is the current Unicode block “CJK Strokes”
(U+31C0..U+31EF), with 36 types of strokes:
8
9
10
11
12
