设
Character learning workspace

shè · to build, to design

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

HSK 3.0 · Level 7-9Frequency #2512
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 设

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 设 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.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

6Total 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.

讠Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 设 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 设

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

shèWords pronounced shè
sheWords pronounced she
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 设 sits in each complete thought.

Nǐ de xiǎng fǎ hěn yǒu jiàn shè xìng.你的想法很有建设性。

Your opinion is very constructive.

Source: Tatoeba #1529534 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè shì tái jiù shè bèi.这是台旧设备。

This is an old device.

Source: Tatoeba #4757238 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ gǎi le yí xià wǒ wǎng zhàn de bǎn miàn shè jì.我改了一下我网站的版面设计。

I've changed my website's layout.

Source: Tatoeba #503054 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ gāi zài zhège fú wù qì shàng shè zhì yí gè fáng huǒ qiáng.我该在这个服务器上设置一个防火墙。

I need to configure this server with an appropriate firewall system.

Source: Tatoeba #426406 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Ràng wǒ men jiǎ shè tā zài zhè lǐ.让我们假设她在这里。

Let us suppose she is here.

Source: Tatoeba #5549687 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ yǒu yí gè shè xiǎng.我有一个设想。

I had a vision.

Source: Tatoeba #5091184 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 设 in context

  1. Say shè, then recall the core meaning: to build, to design.
  2. Write all 6 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 建设 (jiàn shè), meaning “to build”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 设 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.