Hanzi Stroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke

Making Chinese characters easy to write.

Sister Sites
Five Elements TestChinese-Idioms.com
AboutProduct UpdatesPrivacy PolicyTerms of Service
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨

© 2026 Hanzi Stroke. All rights reserved.

Made with♥for Chinese learners.
HanziStroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke
By CharacterBrowse all characters A-Z
HSK ListsAll HSK versions overview
HSK 2.0
Practice & Review
Learning Essentials
  1. Home
  2. Dictionary
  3. 始

始 (shǐ): Begin — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

HSK 3.0:Recognition 2
HSK 3.0Recognition 2
By PinyinSearch by pronunciation
By RadicalFind by radical component
By ComponentsLearn meaning and sound clues
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6
HSK 3.0
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6Level 7-9
HSK Course Books
Writing PracticePractice HSK and saved words
Flashcard ReviewSRS review for HSK and custom decks
Dictation PracticeListen and write characters
Worksheet GeneratorCreate practice sheets for free
Sentence PracticeWrite complete sentences in context
Hanzi Sticker MatchFree pinyin–hanzi matching game
Resources & Utilities
Worksheet LibraryHSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs
HSK Level CheckerCheck HSK level of any text
Pinyin ConverterConvert Chinese to Pinyin
Fun & Culture
Name GeneratorCreate your Chinese name
Zodiac CalculatorFind your zodiac animal
View All Tools
8 Basic Strokes GuideHot
Foundation of all characters
Pinyin Tones Guide
4 tones with audio examples
Chinese Handwriting Guide
Daily practice routine
HSK 3.0 Complete GuideNew
New exam format explained
HSK 1 Common Mistakes
Avoid beginner errors
Topics & Culture
Chinese Numbers 1-1000
Count like a native
Time & Dates Guide
Tell time in Chinese
Family Members Guide
30+ family terms
2026 Fire Horse YearHot
Zodiac meaning & luck
Top 100 Characters
Most frequent, free PDF
View All Blog Posts
1.

Animated Stroke Order 始

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

How to write 始 — animated stroke order

266 learners practiced this

2.

Stroke Order Diagrams 始

始 stroke order diagram
3.

Character Breakdown

Left-Right
始
女nǚ · female
台tái · platform
始=
4.

Printable Writing Worksheet: 始

始 handwriting practice worksheet preview
5.

How to Use 始

Original or first

始 in these words points to something original, first, or primitive.

原始 • yuán shǐ • original; firsthand; primitive • HSK 6
HSK 6
6.

HSK Vocabulary: 始

开始 • kāi shǐ • to begin
HSK 2
kāi开
shǐ始
7.

Example Sentences

tā他
shǐ始
zhōng终
bǎo保
chí持
zhe着
lè

Information

Pinyinshǐ
Meaningbegin, start, commence
Strokes8
Radical女
Traditional始
StructureLeft-Right
Frequency#274
Zhuyinㄕˇ
UnicodeU+59CB
CangjieYRHHI
女nǚ · female
+台tái · platform
yuán原
shǐ始

original; firsthand; primitive

创始人 • chuàng shǐ rén • Founder / Originator • HSK 3.0 · L7-9
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
chuàng创
shǐ始
rén人

Founder / Originator

to begin

始终 • shǐ zhōng • from beginning to end; from start to finish; throughout
HSK 5
shǐ始
zhōng终

from beginning to end; from start to finish; throughout

自始至终 • zìshǐ-zhìzhōng • From beginning to end / Throughout
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
自
始
至
终

From beginning to end / Throughout

乐
guān观
de的
tài态
dù度
。

He maintained an optimistic attitude throughout.

huì会
yì议
jiāng将
zài在
xià下
wǔ午
sān三
diǎn点
kāi开
shǐ始
。

The meeting will begin at three o'clock in the afternoon.

qín秦
shǐ始
huáng皇
tǒng统
yī一
le了
liù六
guó国
。

Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms.

zhè这
ge个
bù部
luò落
hái还
bǎo保
chí持
zhe着
yuán原
shǐ始
de的
shēng生
huó活
fāng方
shì式
。

This tribe still maintains a primitive way of life.

Zhè这
shì是
xì系
tǒng统
de的
chū初
shǐ始
shè设
zhì置
。

This is the system's initial settings.

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

Same Sound

Characters pronounced "shi".

  • 轼shìhorizontal wooden bar in front
  • 仕shìofficial; serve government
  • 舐shito lick
  • 虱shīlouse; bug; parasite
  • 豕shipig
  • 氏shìfamily name, clan
View all "shi" characters →

Same Radical

Characters with radical "女".

  • 妊rènconceive, be pregnant
  • 娠shēnpregnant
  • 娴xiánelegant, refined; skillful
  • 妾qièconcubine
  • 嫦ChángView details
  • 娥éView details
View all "女" radical characters →