存
Character learning workspace

cún · to exist

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

HSK 2.0 · Level 5HSK 3.0 · Level 4Frequency #2114
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 存

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 存 is constructed

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

Loading stroke diagrams…

Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

存
Complete decomposition unavailableThe shape 子 is indexed inside 存, but it is not the whole character.
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

6Total strokes

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

Upper-left enclosureCharacter structure

Keep the outer frame stable without crowding the enclosed strokes.

子Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 存 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 存

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

cúnWords pronounced cún
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 存 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ wèi nǐ bǎo cún zhè xiē dōng xī.我为你保存这些东西。

I've been saving these for you.

Source: Tatoeba #8853709 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yàoshi liǎn shū shàng méi yǒu nǐ, nǐ jiù bù cún zài!要是脸书上没有你,你就不存在!

If you're not on Facebook, you don't exist!

Source: Tatoeba #1416884 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Rén lèi bù néng zài huǒ xīng shàng shēng cún.人类不能在火星上生存。

Humans cannot survive on Mars.

Source: Tatoeba #7781509 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā bù cún zài.他不存在。

He doesn't exist.

Source: Tatoeba #1361960 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ jué zhe yǒu wài xīng rén cún zài ma?你觉着有外星人存在吗?

Do you think there are aliens?

Source: Tatoeba #4903393 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Rén men xiāng xìn shén shì cún zài de.人们相信神是存在的。

People believe that god exists.

Source: Tatoeba #13943168 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 存 in context

  1. Say cún, then recall the core meaning: to exist.
  2. Write all 6 strokes while keeping the upper-left enclosure balanced.
  3. Use it in 保存 (bǎo cún), meaning “to conserve”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 存 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.