常
Character learning workspace

cháng · common, general, normal

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

HSK 3.0 · Level 3Frequency #1057
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 常

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 常 is constructed

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

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

11Total strokes

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

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

巾Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 常 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 常

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

chángWords pronounced cháng
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 常 sits in each complete thought.

Tā shì yí gè fēi cháng měi de nǚ rén.她是一个非常美的女人。

She is a woman of great beauty.

Source: Tatoeba #349282 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ jīng cháng duì wǒ shuō zhège.你经常对我说这个。

You say this to me a lot.

Source: Tatoeba #1324960 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ cháng cháng zài zhège dì fāng.我常常在这个地方。

I'm often here.

Source: Tatoeba #3493146 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bú yào zài bǎ wǒ dàngchéng “ zhèng cháng ” rén!不要再把我当成“正常”人!

Stop seeing me as a "normal" person!

Source: Tatoeba #61 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yīyuè tōng cháng shì zuì lěng de yuè fèn.一月通常是最冷的月份。

January is usually the coldest month.

Source: Tatoeba #10752760 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shì fēi cháng yǒu xiǎng xiàng lì de zuò jiā.他是非常有想像力的作家。

He is a very imaginative writer.

Source: Tatoeba #737167 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 常 in context

  1. Say cháng, then recall the core meaning: common, general, normal.
  2. Write all 11 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 非常 (fēi cháng), meaning “very”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 常 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.