Character library

Chinese characters, one picture at a time.

Each page breaks one character into its meaning, pronunciation, components, origin, and the words it unlocks — anchored by a visual mnemonic. 32 characters online so far; the full InkSeal app covers all 1,799 HSK 1–6 characters.

HSK 1

• 休 xiū — to rest
• 妈 mā — mother / mom
• 看 kàn — to look / to see
• 系 xì / jì — system / to connect
• 西 xī — west
• 问 wèn — to ask

HSK 2

• 卖 mài — to sell
• 春 chūn — spring
• 狗 gǒu — dog
• 画 huà — to draw / picture
• 算 suàn — to calculate / to compute

HSK 3

• 付 fù — to pay / to hand over
• 任 rèn — to appoint / responsibility
• 具 jù — tool / device

HSK 4

• 伞 sǎn — umbrella
• 供 gòng / gōng — to offer / to provide
• 史 shǐ — history / annals
• 针 zhēn — needle

HSK 5

• 册 cè — book / volume
• 夹 jiā — to clip / to squeeze
• 寿 shòu — longevity / long life
• 竹 zhú — bamboo
• 织 zhī — to weave / to knit

HSK 6

• 串 chuàn — to string together / skewer
• 壮 zhuàng — strong / robust
• 壶 hú — pot / kettle
• 屏 píng — screen / folding screen
• 渡 dù — to cross (a river / sea)
• 炒 chǎo — stir-fry / sauté
• 策 cè — strategy / plan
• 罪 zuì — sin / crime
• 麦 mài — wheat