命
Character learning workspace

mìng · life

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

Frequency #1484
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 命

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

Interactive stroke trainerWatch and inspect
Checking daily allowance…Please waitGo unlimited
Loading strokes…
0 strokes
Choose Watch order or Practice writing
Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 命 is constructed

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

Loading stroke diagrams…

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

8Total strokes

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

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

口Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 命 writing sheet

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

Preparing worksheet…
Customize

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

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 命

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

mìngWords pronounced mìng
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 命 sits in each complete thought.

Nǐ shì wǒ de shēng mìng dāng zhōng zuì zhòng yào de rén.你是我的生命当中最重要的人。

You are the most important person in my life.

Source: Tatoeba #1315976 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā bǎ tā de shēng mìng gěi le guó jiā.他把他的生命给了国家。

He gave his life for the nation.

Source: Tatoeba #466014 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè shì nǐ de mìng yùn.这是你的命运。

This is your fate.

Source: Tatoeba #9467057 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ shì wǒ de jiù mìng ēn rén.你是我的救命恩人。

You are my saviour.

Source: Tatoeba #2607393 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā de huà jiù shì mìng lìng.他的话就是命令。

His word is law.

Source: Tatoeba #792851 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nà shì wǒ shēng mìngzhòng zuì měi de yì tiān.那是我生命中最美的一天。

That was the best day of my life.

Source: Tatoeba #502725 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 命 in context

  1. Say mìng, then recall the core meaning: life.
  2. Write all 8 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 生命 (shēng mìng), meaning “life”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 命 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.