The character 算 — “calculate”: how to write it and what it means
calculate, count
The Chinese character 算 is read suàn and means “calculate, count”. Below: the stroke order step by step, what the character is made of and the words it appears in.
Stroke order: how to write 算
算 has 14 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 算, with strokes to trace and empty squares.
What 算 is made of
On top, 竹 “bamboo”: people used to count with bamboo sticks.
The parts of a character hint at its meaning or its reading — more in the article “Chinese character radicals”.
Words with 算
- 打算plan to; planHSK 3
- 计算calculateHSK 5
- 计算机computer (lit.)HSK 5
- 总算finally, at last; on the wholeHSK 6
- 就算even ifHSK 6
- 算是count as; one could sayHSK 6
- 算了forget it, never mindHSK 6
Frequently asked questions
How do you write the character 算?
算 has 14 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 算 mean?
算 means “calculate, count”. It appears in 打算 (“plan to”), 计算 (“calculate”), 计算机 (“computer”), 总算 (“finally”).
How do you pronounce 算?
算 is read suàn. The tone is part of the reading: with another melody it becomes another syllable.
How many strokes does 算 have?
14 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 算 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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