Learn to write Chinese characters.

How it works

1. Watch. See the character written stroke by stroke, in order, as often as you like.
2. Trace. Follow the outline from the start dot. Get a stroke right and it settles into clean brushwork.
3. Write from memory. Start from a blank square. A wrong stroke fades with a short note, and a hint is one tap away. We grade it for you, and you can change the grade.

Spaced repetition brings it back right before you'd forget it

Each time you remember a character, it waits longer before it comes back. Miss it and it returns sooner. For example, a character you remember every time comes back after 2 days, then 11, 46 and 163 days; miss it and it is back in 10 minutes, then after 2, 5, 12 days.

Every character the 2025 HSK asks you to write

The 2025 HSK lists 1,200 characters to write by hand, in six levels, and 1,940 characters to read for HSK 1–6. Stroke order is there for 9,565 characters, Simplified and Traditional, so your own lists can hold any of them.

• HSK 1–2: 100 characters
• HSK 3: 150 characters
• HSK 4: 150 characters
• HSK 5: 150 characters
• HSK 6: 150 characters
• HSK 7–9: 500 characters

Free, with a SayMei account

Every HSK list and the lists you make, writing and meaning practice, every review, your progress and your streak are free. The account saves your characters and reviews and keeps your devices in step. SayMei is paid for by live lessons with Mei Lin. Prefer paper? Print the free HSK handwriting worksheets.

Frequently asked questions

Is SayMei Characters free?

Yes. Every list, all the writing and meaning practice, every review and your progress are free with a SayMei account. No card is needed, and there is no daily limit on reviews.

Do I need an account?

You can try the writing pad on this page without one. A free account saves the characters you learn and your reviews, so they come back on schedule on any device.

Does it work on my phone?

Yes. SayMei Characters runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, with nothing to install. Write with your finger, a stylus or a mouse.

Which characters can I learn?

The 2025 HSK lists: the 1,200 characters you need to write by hand, in six levels from HSK 1–2 to HSK 7–9, and the 1,940 characters to read for HSK 1–6. You can also make your own lists.

Simplified or Traditional?

Both. Characters uses the script you picked in your SayMei profile, and you can switch it for Characters alone in its settings. Stroke order follows the mainland standard, so in Taiwan a few Traditional characters are written in a slightly different order.

How are reviews scheduled?

With spaced repetition. Each time you remember a character, it waits longer before it comes back, for example 2 days, then 11, then 46. Miss it and it comes back sooner. Writing, meaning and, if you turn them on, tones and pinyin each have their own schedule.

What happens when I get a stroke wrong?

The stroke fades and a short note says what went wrong, such as the wrong stroke or the wrong direction. Ask for a hint any time; after a few misses on one stroke, it shows you that stroke. Your grade depends on what you remembered, not on how neat it looks.

Can I make my own lists?

Yes. Type or paste characters or words, and SayMei fills in the pinyin and meaning. Words get meaning practice, and each character in them gets writing practice.

How is this different from SayMei flashcards?

Flashcards are for vocabulary: you see a word and recall its meaning and sound. Characters is for writing each character by hand, with meaning practice alongside. Characters has no daily limit, while flashcards have a free daily allowance. SayMei flashcards.

Can I practise on paper?

Yes. Print the free HSK handwriting worksheets, or turn on Write on paper in Characters settings: write the character on paper, reveal it, then grade yourself. Free HSK handwriting worksheets.