Chinese stroke order: 7 rules

Stroke order follows 7 rules: horizontal before vertical, left-falling before right-falling, top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside, inside before closing, and middle before the sides.

1. RULE 1

   Horizontal before vertical

   先横后竖 · xiān héng hòu shù

   Write 一 first, then 丨. Example: 十.

   12
2. RULE 2

   Left-falling before right-falling

   先撇后捺 · xiān piě hòu nà

   The 撇 on the left comes before the 捺 on the right. Example: 八.

   12
3. RULE 3

   Top to bottom

   从上到下 · cóng shàng dào xià

   Write the top stroke first and move down. Example: 三.

   123
4. RULE 4

   Left to right

   从左到右 · cóng zuǒ dào yòu

   Finish the left part 日 before the right part 月. Example: 明.

   12345678
5. RULE 5

   Outside before inside

   从外到内 · cóng wài dào nèi

   Write the frame first, then what goes inside. Example: 同.

   123456
6. RULE 6

   Inside before closing

   先里头后封口 · xiān lǐtou hòu fēngkǒu

   Write the frame, fill the inside, then close the bottom last. Example: 国.

   12345678
7. RULE 7

   Middle before the sides

   先中间后两边 · xiān zhōngjiān hòu liǎngbiān

   Write the centre stroke first, then the left and right. Example: 水.

   1234

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