The character 码 — “numeral”: how to write it and what it means
numeral, code
The Chinese character 码 is read mǎ and means “numeral, code”. Below: the stroke order step by step, what the character is made of and the words it appears in.
Stroke order: how to write 码
码 has 8 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 码, with strokes to trace and empty squares.
What 码 is made of
On the left, 石 “stone”; on the right, 马 mǎ hints at the sound.
The parts of a character hint at its meaning or its reading — more in the article “Chinese character radicals”.
Words with 码
Frequently asked questions
How do you write the character 码?
码 has 8 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 码 mean?
码 means “numeral, code”. It appears in 号码 (“number”), 扫码 (“scan a code”), 密码 (“password”), 二维码 (“QR code”).
How do you pronounce 码?
码 is read mǎ. The tone is part of the reading: with another melody it becomes another syllable.
How many strokes does 码 have?
8 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 码 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.
Start for free