Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.
Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.
Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.
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The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.
Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.
Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.
Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.
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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.
Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.
teacher
first
to lead
in advance
early or late
sophisticated
to take the lead
before
to have priority
originally
ancestors
vanguard
Notice where 先 sits in each complete thought.
Yes, there are. How many of you are there, Sir?
Source: Tatoeba #420438 · CC BY 2.0 FRFirst, I should hear both sides.
Source: Tatoeba #333844 · CC BY 2.0 FRI've lived in China for six months.
Source: Tatoeba #3739154 · CC BY 2.0 FRThis house belongs to Mr Yamada.
Source: Tatoeba #794645 · CC BY 2.0 FRPlease don't get mad, sir! I'm a new worker!
Source: Tatoeba #425109 · CC BY 2.0 FRHello, are you Mr Ogawa?
Source: Tatoeba #886132 · CC BY 2.0 FRDefinitions 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.