应
Character learning workspace

yīng / yìng · should, must

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

HSK 3.0 · Level 7-9Frequency #999
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Learn every stroke in 应

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

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

yīng

to agree (to do sth); should; ought to

应该yīng gāi · ought to
yìng

to answer; to respond; to comply with

适应shì yìng · to adapt
Step-by-step explorer

See how 应 is constructed

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

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

7Total 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.

广Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 应 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 应

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

yīngto agree (to do sth); should; ought to
yingWords pronounced ying
yìngto answer; to respond; to comply with
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 应 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ hái shì yīnggāi mǎi nǐ de shū.我还是应该买你的书。

I still have to buy your book.

Source: Tatoeba #636202 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yǒu tā de yìng yòng ma?有它的应用吗?

Is there an app for that?

Source: Tatoeba #5663598 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zhēn de bú yīnggāi zài dāi xià qù le.我真的不应该再呆下去了。

I really shouldn't stay any longer.

Source: Tatoeba #10983912 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ běn bú yīnggāi zuò de.我本不应该做的。

I shouldn't have done it.

Source: Tatoeba #1372503 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ shì bu shì yīnggāi gěi nǐ nà xiē shū kàn?我是不是应该给你那些书看?

Should I give you those books to look at?

Source: Tatoeba #1188445 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ men zài zhè lǐ yīnggāi shì ān quán de.我们在这里应该是安全的。

We should be safe here.

Source: Tatoeba #5942085 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 应 in context

  1. Say yīng / yìng, then recall the core meaning: should, must.
  2. Write all 7 strokes while keeping the upper-left enclosure balanced.
  3. Use it in 应该 (yīng gāi), meaning “ought to”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 应 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.