贤
Character learning workspace

xián · virtuous, worthy

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

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Learn every stroke in 贤

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 贤 is constructed

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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.

贝Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 贤 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 贤

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

xiánWords pronounced xián
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Example sentences

Notice where 贤 sits in each complete thought.

Rén fēi shèng xián, shú néng wú guò.人非圣贤,孰能无过。

To err is human.

Source: Tatoeba #13895002 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Lì lǎn qián xián guó yǔ jiā, chéng yóu qín jiǎn pò yóu shē.历览前贤国与家,成由勤俭破由奢。

Looking back at the former wise rulers and nations, their success was achieved through diligence and frugality, while their downfall was caused by extravagance and luxury.

Source: Tatoeba #12705155 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Liáng qín zé mù ér qī, xián chén zé zhǔ ér shì.良禽择木而栖,贤臣择主而事。

A prudent bird chooses its tree. A wise servant chooses his master.

Source: Tatoeba #392246 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 贤 in context

  1. Say xián, then recall the core meaning: virtuous, worthy.
  2. Write all 8 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 圣贤 (shèng xián), meaning “a sage”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 贤 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.