Chinese (Mandarin)/How To Study Chinese/Stroke Order

General Rules

  • Top before bottom
  • Left before right

In case of order conflict

  • left before top horizontal
  • bottom horizontal last
  • center stroke before wings
  • horizontal before intersecting vertical stroke
  • left falling before right falling (ex. Pie before Ti)
  • Minor strokes last

Some online Chinese dictionaries have stroke order animations for all the Chinese characters - a good one is Arch Chinese