乃
Character learning workspace

nǎi · then

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 7-9Frequency #5811
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 乃

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 乃 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

2Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Upper-right enclosureCharacter structure

Keep the outer frame stable without crowding the enclosed strokes.

丿Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 乃 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 乃

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

nǎiWords pronounced nǎi
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 乃 sits in each complete thought.

Dào dé shàng de è nǎi shì wú zhī de hòu guǒ.道德上的恶乃是无知的后果。

Moral evil is the result of ignorance.

Source: Tatoeba #3130823 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zài mǔ qīn jié sòng gěi wǒ de māma yí shù kāng nǎi xīn.我在母亲节送给我的妈妈一束康乃馨。

I gave my mother carnations on Mother's Day.

Source: Tatoeba #784868 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā kàn qǐ lái xiàng yí jù mù nǎi yī.他看起來像一具木乃伊。

He looked like a mummy.

Source: Tatoeba #13533666 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Mù nǎi yī zàiháng zǒu.木乃伊在行走。

The mummy is walking.

Source: Tatoeba #13533658 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Mù nǎi yī kū le.木乃伊哭了。

Mummy cried.

Source: Tatoeba #13533654 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Mù nǎi yī zài gōng zuò.木乃伊在工作。

Mummy's working.

Source: Tatoeba #13533656 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 乃 in context

  1. Say nǎi, then recall the core meaning: then.
  2. Write all 2 strokes while keeping the upper-right enclosure balanced.
  3. Use it in 乃至 (nǎi zhì), meaning “and even”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 乃 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.