Chinese Stroke Order
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了
Character learning workspace

le / liǎo · clear

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

HSK 2.0 · Level 1HSK 3.0 · Level 1Frequency #3
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 了

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
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

了 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

le

(completed action marker); (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now); (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)

除了chú le · apart from
liǎo

(of eyes) bright; clear-sighted; to understand clearly

了解liǎo jiě · to understand
Step-by-step explorer

See how 了 is constructed

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

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

了=
乛yakwukyel
+亅juéhook
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

2Total strokes

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

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

亅Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 了 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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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 了

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

le(completed action marker); (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now); (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)
liǎo(of eyes) bright; clear-sighted; to understand clearly
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 了 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ shēng lái jiù shì wèi le ài nǐ de.我生来就是为了爱你的。

I was born to love you.

Source: Tatoeba #472332 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zhēn de shòu bù liǎoliǎo.我真的受不了了。

I just can't take it anymore.

Source: Tatoeba #8647815 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yàoshi nǐ láide le, nà jiù tài hǎo le.要是你来得了，那就太好了。

If you came, that would be great.

Source: Tatoeba #400590 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ yíng dé le wǒ xiǎng yào de.我赢得了我想要的。

I succeeded in getting what I wanted.

Source: Tatoeba #2620166 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ yào bú zài le, nà wǒ jiù bú zài le.你要不在了，那我就不在了。

If you were gone, I'd die.

Source: Tatoeba #3657303 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ zǒu le, wǒ men dōu huì xiǎng nǐ de.你走了，我们都会想你的。

We shall all miss you when you go away.

Source: Tatoeba #332548 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 了 in context

  1. Say le / liǎo, then recall the core meaning: clear.
  2. Write all 2 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 除了 (chú le), meaning “apart from”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 了 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.