The character 元 — “yuan”: how to write it and what it means
yuan
The Chinese character 元 is read yuán and means “yuan”. Below: the stroke order step by step, what the character is made of and the words it appears in.
Stroke order: how to write 元
元 has 4 strokes. At each step the new stroke is highlighted — write them in the same order: top to bottom and left to right, horizontal before vertical, a frame before what is inside it, and the bottom stroke of the frame last.
To train your hand, print a handwriting sheet for 元, with strokes to trace and empty squares.
Words with 元
- 单元building entrance; unit (of textbook)HSK 5
- 元旦New Year's Day (January 1)HSK 5
- 元素element (chem.); motif (in design)HSK 6
- 多元diverse, pluralisticHSK 6
- 公元AD, Common EraHSK 6
- 元宵yuanxiao (rice balls)HSK 6
Frequently asked questions
How do you write the character 元?
元 has 4 strokes. They follow the usual rules: top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical, outside before inside. The order of each stroke is shown on this page.
What does 元 mean?
元 means “yuan”. It appears in 单元 (“building entrance”), 元旦 (“New Year's Day”), 元素 (“element”), 多元 (“diverse”).
How do you pronounce 元?
元 is read yuán. The tone is part of the reading: with another melody it becomes another syllable.
How many strokes does 元 have?
4 strokes.
More characters on the page “Chinese characters with meanings” and in the list of HSK characters by level; whole words are in the dictionary.
Write 元 yourself
In the lessons you write characters stroke by stroke with a finger or a mouse, and the course checks the order. You can start for free, no sign-up needed.
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