代
Character learning workspace

dài · era, generation

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

HSK 3.0 · Level 5Frequency #1458
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 代

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 代 is constructed

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

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

5Total strokes

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

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

亻Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 代 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 代

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Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 代 sits in each complete thought.

Zhège nián jí de fǎ fāng dài biǎo shì shuí?这个年级的法方代表是谁?

Who is the current representative from France?

Source: Tatoeba #579142 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ huì dài tì wǒ qù pài duì ma?你会代替我去派对吗?

Will you go to the party instead of me?

Source: Tatoeba #332832 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā bì jìng shì nàge shí dài de rén.他毕竟是那个时代的人。

He's a product of his time.

Source: Tatoeba #13891929 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Xiàn dài de rén xiǎng fǎ bù tóng.现代的人想法不同。

People today think differently.

Source: Tatoeba #6452010 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yǒu rén shuō xīn yí dài de rén hěn lěng mò.有人说新一代的人很冷漠。

It is said that the younger generation today is apathetic.

Source: Tatoeba #1424286 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zì yóu shì yǒu dài jià de.自由是有代价的。

Freedom is not free.

Source: Tatoeba #332638 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 代 in context

  1. Say dài, then recall the core meaning: era, generation.
  2. Write all 5 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 代表 (dài biǎo), meaning “representative”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 代 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.