Character Lesson 5 – 5 Fundamental Strokes & 26 Derivative Strokes

LESSON NOTES

5 Chinese Fundamental Strokes

The 5 Fundamental Strokes are 横, 竖, 撇, 点, 折. Horizontal, Vertical, Downward Left, Dot, and Bend.

We can also use the 5 Fundamental Strokes to help put the 26 Derivative Strokes into groups.

26 Chinese Derivative Strokes

The 26 Derivative Strokes can be put into 4 different groups, generally depending on which Fundamental Stroke they start with or end with.

Group 1: Horizontal 横 Héng

横折(héngzhé), 横折提(héngzhétí), 横折折(héngzhézhé), 横折折折(héngzhézhézhé), 横撇(héngpiě), 横折折折撇(héngzhézhézhépiě), 横折弯(héngzhéwān).

Example Characters: 口(kǒu), 计(jì), 凹(āo), 凸(tū), 水(shuǐ), 及(jí), 朵(duǒ).

Group 2: Vertical 竖 Shù

竖折(shùzhé), 竖弯(shùwān), 竖提(shùtí), 竖折折(shùzhézhé), 竖折折撇(shùzhézhépiě).

Example Characters: 山(shān), 四(sì), 长(cháng), 鼎(dǐng), 专(zhuān).

Group 3: Downward Left 撇 Piě

撇折(piězhé), 撇点(piědiǎn)

Example Characters: 么(me), 女(nǚ).

Group 4: Hook 钩 Gōu

Category (1): Start with 横, Horizontal:

横钩(hénggōu), 横折钩(héngzhégōu), 横折斜勾(héngzhéxiégōu), 横折弯钩(héngzhéwāngōu), and 横折撇弯钩(héngzhépiěwāngōu), 横折折折钩(héngzhézhézhégōu)

Example Characters: 买(mǎi), 刀(dāo), 飞(fēi), 几(jǐ), 那(nà), 奶(nǎi).

Category (2): Start with 竖, Vertical:

竖勾(shùgōu), 竖弯钩(shùwāngōu), 竖折折勾(shùzhézhégōu)

Example Characters: 你(nǐ), 儿(ér), 马(mǎ).

Category (3): Start with Other Strokes:

弯钩(wāngōu), 斜勾(xiégóu), and 卧勾(wògōu)

Example Characters: 家(jiā), 我(wǒ), 心(xīn)