子
Character learning workspace

zǐ / zi · son, child

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

HSK 3.0 · Level 3Frequency #627
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Learn every stroke in 子

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

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

zǐ

son; child; seed

电子书diàn zǐ shū · electronic book
zi

noun suffix, as in 椅子[yi3 zi5] "chair"

包子bāo zi · baozi
Step-by-step explorer

See how 子 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.

子
Complete decomposition unavailableThis character is currently indexed as a single visual form.
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

3Total strokes

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

Single-componentCharacter structure

Keep the whole form centered inside the writing square.

子Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 子 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 子

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

zinoun suffix, as in 椅子[yi3 zi5] "chair"
zǐson; child; seed
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 子 sits in each complete thought.

Nàge bēizi shì wǒ de.那个杯子是我的。

That cup is mine.

Source: Tatoeba #11837742 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ bú zài zhǐshì yí gè háizi le.你不再只是一个孩子了。

You are no longer a mere child.

Source: Tatoeba #2007067 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ de yǐzi hé wǒ de hěn xiàng.你的椅子和我的很像。

Your chair is similar to mine.

Source: Tatoeba #1225645 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bú yào bǎ tā fàng zài wǒ de zhuōzi shàng.不要把它放在我的桌子上。

Don't put it on my desk.

Source: Tatoeba #839533 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè bú shì wǒ de qī zǐ.这不是我的妻子。

That's not my wife.

Source: Tatoeba #7768196 · CC BY 2.0 FR
“ zhè shì shuí de yǐzi?”“ tā shì wǒ de.”“这是谁的椅子?”“它是我的。”

"Whose chair is this?" "It is mine."

Source: Tatoeba #1737869 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 子 in context

  1. Say zǐ / zi, then recall the core meaning: son, child.
  2. Write all 3 strokes while keeping the single-component balanced.
  3. Use it in 包子 (bāo zi), meaning “baozi”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 子 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.