典
Character learning workspace

diǎn · law, canon

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

Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 典

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 典 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.

典
Complete decomposition unavailableThe shape 八 is indexed inside 典, but it is not the whole character.
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.

八Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 典 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 典

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

diǎnWords pronounced diǎn
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 典 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ kàn yí xià nǐ de cí diǎn, xíng ma ?我看一下你的词典,行吗?

Can I look at your dictionary?

Source: Tatoeba #7817193 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bǎ tā de zì diǎn hái gěi le tā.我把她的字典还给了她。

I gave her her dictionary back.

Source: Tatoeba #793874 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shì diǎn xíng de rì běn rén.他是典型的日本人。

He is a typical Japanese.

Source: Tatoeba #344832 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ gāi shuō, tā de xíngwéi shì diǎn fàn.我该说,他的行为是典范。

I must say, his behaviour is exemplary.

Source: Tatoeba #805180 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Shū zhuō shàng de cí diǎn shì wǒ de.书桌上的词典是我的。

The dictionary on the desk is mine.

Source: Tatoeba #408844 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ yǒu hé nǐ gēge yí yàng de cí diǎn.我有和你哥哥一样的词典。

I have the same dictionary as your brother has.

Source: Tatoeba #679445 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 典 in context

  1. Say diǎn, then recall the core meaning: law, canon.
  2. Write all 8 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 词典 (cí diǎn), meaning “dictionary”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 典 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.