HSK handwriting characters · HSK 5

HSK 5 Handwriting Characters: 150 with Stroke Order (Free PDF)

Cover of the HSK 5 handwriting characters PDF: 150 characters with stroke order

The 150 characters HSK 5 asks you to write by hand on the 2025 HSK syllabus (HSK 3.0), 550 in all with the levels below. Each gets its stroke order, a row of boxes that builds it one stroke at a time, empty boxes to write it from memory and a pinyin line.

Characters:: 150 to write · 550 in all by HSK 5
Format:: PDF · 8 sheets of up to 20 · 71 pages on A4 / 77 on US Letter
Practice:: Stroke order · boxes that add one stroke at a time · empty 田字格 (tián zì gé) boxes · a pinyin line
List:: HSK 3.0 handwriting list (2025 syllabus) · a QR code on every sheet for online practice
Price:: Free · no sign-up · updated Oct 27, 2026

Practice these characters online

Next step after the characters: HSK 5 Paraphrasing & Written Responses, free with a SayMei account.

All 150 HSK 5 characters to write

HSK 5's characters take from 1 to 15 strokes, 7.4 on average. The fewest: 乙 (yǐ, second). The most: 靠 (kào, to lean on). 68 of the 150 are written differently in traditional Chinese, and 12 have a second reading in the official word list. They are listed below in the syllabus's own order, which is roughly alphabetical by pinyin.

#	Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Strokes	Traditional	Example words
1	版	bǎn	edition; version; page (of a newspaper)	8	版	出版 chūbǎn to publish; 电子版 diànzǐbǎn electronic version
2	扮	bàn	to dress up as; to play (a role)	7	扮	打扮 dǎban to dress up; 扮演 bànyǎn to play (a role)
3	伴	bàn	companion; partner; to accompany	7	伴	伙伴 huǒbàn partner; companion; 陪伴 péibàn to keep sb company
4	宝	bǎo	treasure; precious	8	寶	宝贝 bǎobèi treasure; darling; 宝贵 bǎoguì valuable; precious
5	贝	bèi	shell; shellfish	4	貝	宝贝 bǎobèi treasure; darling; 贝壳 bèiké shell; seashell
6	币	bì	money; currency; coin	4	幣	人民币 rénmínbì RMB (Chinese currency); 货币 huòbì currency
7	闭	bì	to close; to shut	6	閉	关闭 guānbì to close; to shut down; 闭幕式 bìmùshì closing ceremony
8	补	bǔ	to mend; to make up for; to add	7	補	补充 bǔchōng to add; to supplement; 补偿 bǔcháng to compensate
9	布	bù	cloth; to announce; to arrange	5	布	分布 fēnbù to be distributed; 发布 fābù to announce; to release
10	采	cǎi	to pick; to gather; to adopt	8	採	采用 cǎiyòng to use; to adopt; 采取 cǎiqǔ to adopt; to take (measures)
11	册	cè	volume; book (measure word)	5	冊	注册 zhùcè to register; 相册 xiàngcè photo album
12	测	cè	to measure; to test	9	測	测试 cèshì test; 预测 yùcè to predict; forecast
13	叉	chā	fork; cross	3	叉	叉子 chāzi fork; 交叉 jiāochā to cross; to intersect
14	吵	chǎo	noisy; to quarrel	7	吵	争吵 zhēngchǎo to quarrel; 吵架 chǎojià to quarrel
15	沉	chén	to sink; heavy; deep	7	沉	沉默 chénmò silent; silence; 沉重 chénzhòng heavy
16	称	chēng	to call; to name; to weigh	10	稱	称为 chēngwéi to be called; 名称 míngchēng name (of a thing)
17	承	chéng	to bear; to undertake; to continue	8	承	承认 chéngrèn to admit; 承担 chéngdān to take on; to bear
18	尺	chǐ	ruler; Chinese foot (1/3 meter)	4	尺	尺子 chǐzi ruler; 尺寸 chǐcùn size; measurements
19	冲	chōng	to rush; to dash; to rinse	6	衝	冲突 chōngtū conflict; 冲击 chōngjī impact; to hit hard
20	充	chōng	full; to fill; to charge	6	充	充分 chōngfèn full; ample; 充满 chōngmǎn to be full of
21	虫	chóng	insect; worm; bug	6	蟲	昆虫 kūnchóng insect; 虫子 chóngzi bug; insect
22	抽	chōu	to draw out; to take out; to smoke	8	抽	抽象 chōuxiàng abstract; 抽奖 chōujiǎng lucky draw
23	丑	chǒu	ugly	4	醜	丑陋 chǒulòu ugly; 丑恶 chǒu'è ugly; evil
24	臭	chòu	smelly; to stink	10	臭
25	传	chuán	to pass on; to spread	6	傳	传统 chuántǒng tradition; traditional; 宣传 xuānchuán to promote; to publicize
26	创	chuàng	to create; to start	6	創	创造 chuàngzào to create; 创作 chuàngzuò to create (art or writing)
27	代	dài	generation; era; to replace	5	代	代表 dàibiǎo to represent; representative; 年代 niándài decade; era
28	胆	dǎn	courage; gall bladder	9	膽	大胆 dàdǎn bold; daring; 胆小 dǎnxiǎo timid
29	旦	dàn	dawn; day (as in 元旦)	5	旦	一旦 yídàn once (something happens); 元旦 Yuándàn New Year's Day
30	挡	dǎng	to block; to keep off	9	擋	阻挡 zǔdǎng to block; 抵挡 dǐdǎng to hold back; to resist
31	敌	dí	enemy; to oppose	10	敵	敌人 dírén enemy; 无敌 wúdí unbeatable
32	冻	dòng	to freeze; frozen	7	凍	冻结 dòngjié to freeze (assets, prices); 冷冻 lěngdòng to freeze
33	斗	dòu	to fight; to struggle	4	鬥	奋斗 fèndòu to strive; to fight for; 泰斗 tàidǒu leading authority
34	豆	dòu	bean; pea	7	豆	豆腐 dòufu tofu; 土豆 tǔdòu potato
35	独	dú	alone; only; independent	9	獨	独立 dúlì independent; 独特 dútè unique
36	吨	dūn	ton	7	噸
37	范	fàn	model; example; range	8	範	范围 fànwéi range; scope; 规范 guīfàn standard; norm
38	防	fáng	to prevent; to guard against	6	防	防止 fángzhǐ to prevent; 预防 yùfáng to prevent
39	访	fǎng	to visit	6	訪	采访 cǎifǎng to interview; 访问 fǎngwèn to visit; to interview
40	疯	fēng	crazy; mad	9	瘋	疯狂 fēngkuáng crazy; 疯子 fēngzi madman
41	佛	fó	Buddha; Buddhism	7	佛	仿佛 fǎngfú as if; seemingly
42	府	fǔ	government office; mansion	8	府	政府 zhèngfǔ government; 首府 shǒufǔ capital (of a region)
43	妇	fù	woman; wife	6	婦	妇女 fùnǚ woman; women; 夫妇 fūfù married couple
44	搞	gǎo	to do; to make; to get	13	搞	搞笑 gǎoxiào funny; 搞鬼 gǎoguǐ to play tricks
45	贡	gòng	tribute; to offer	7	貢	贡献 gòngxiàn contribution; to contribute
46	构	gòu	to build; to form; structure	8	構	机构 jīgòu organization; institution; 结构 jiégòu structure
47	古	gǔ	ancient; old	5	古	古代 gǔdài ancient times; 古老 gǔlǎo ancient; old
48	柜	guì	cabinet; cupboard	8	櫃	柜子 guìzi cupboard; cabinet; 柜台 guìtái counter (in a shop)
49	哈	hā	ha (laughter); to breathe out	9	哈
50	含	hán	to hold in the mouth; to contain	7	含	包含 bāohán to contain; 含量 hánliàng content; amount
51	胡	hú	reckless; foreign; beard	9	胡	胡同 hútòng alley; hutong; 胡子 húzi beard; mustache
52	湖	hú	lake	12	湖	湖泊 húpō lake
53	华	huá	China; splendid	6	華	中华 Zhōnghuá China; Chinese (formal); 中华民族 Zhōnghuá Mínzú the Chinese nation
54	挥	huī	to wave; to wipe away	9	揮	发挥 fāhuī to bring into play; 指挥 zhǐhuī to conduct; to command
55	挤	jǐ	crowded; to squeeze	9	擠	拥挤 yōngjǐ crowded; 挤压 jǐyā to squeeze; to press
56	甲	jiǎ	first; shell; nail	5	甲	指甲 zhǐjia fingernail
57	架	jià	frame; shelf; measure word for planes	9	架	书架 shūjià bookshelf; 打架 dǎjià to fight
58	艰	jiān	difficult; hard	8	艱	艰苦 jiānkǔ hard; difficult; 艰难 jiānnán difficult; hard
59	局	jú	bureau; office; situation; game	7	局	邮局 yóujú post office; 局面 júmiàn situation
60	巨	jù	huge; giant	4	巨	巨大 jùdà huge; 巨额 jù'é huge amount
61	军	jūn	army; military	6	軍	冠军 guànjūn champion; 军队 jūnduì army
62	均	jūn	equal; average; all	7	均	平均 píngjūn average; 人均 rénjūn per person
63	靠	kào	to lean on; to rely on; near	15	靠	依靠 yīkào to rely on; 可靠 kěkào reliable
64	宽	kuān	wide; broad	10	寬	宽度 kuāndù width; 宽阔 kuānkuò wide; broad
65	亏	kuī	to lose (money); thanks to	3	虧	亏损 kuīsǔn loss (financial); 多亏 duōkuī thanks to
66	括	kuò	to include; to enclose	9	括	包括 bāokuò to include; 概括 gàikuò to summarize
67	劳	láo	labor; work	7	勞	劳动 láodòng labor; to work; 劳动力 láodònglì labor force
68	泪	lèi	tear (from crying)	8	淚	眼泪 yǎnlèi tears; 泪水 lèishuǐ tears
69	类	lèi	kind; type; category	9	類	人类 rénlèi humankind; 类型 lèixíng type; kind
70	立	lì	to stand; to set up	5	立	建立 jiànlì to establish; 成立 chénglì to set up; to found
71	良	liáng	good; fine	7	良	良好 liánghǎo good; 优良 yōuliáng fine; excellent
72	疗	liáo	to treat; to cure	7	療	治疗 zhìliáo to treat; treatment; 医疗 yīliáo medical care
73	烈	liè	strong; fierce; intense	10	烈	强烈 qiángliè strong; intense; 激烈 jīliè intense; fierce
74	领	lǐng	to lead; collar; to receive	11	領	领导 lǐngdǎo leader; to lead; 领域 lǐngyù field; area
75	令	lìng	to cause; order; command	5	令	命令 mìnglìng order; command; 夏令营 xiàlìngyíng summer camp
76	龙	lóng	dragon	5	龍	龙头 lóngtóu faucet; leader; 恐龙 kǒnglóng dinosaur
77	陆	lù	land	7	陸	陆续 lùxù one after another; 陆地 lùdì land
78	录	lù	to record; to copy	8	錄	录取 lùqǔ to admit (to a school); 记录 jìlù to record; record
79	骂	mà	to scold; to curse	9	罵
80	秘	mì	secret	10	秘	秘密 mìmì secret; 秘书 mìshū secretary
81	某	mǒu	some; a certain	9	某
82	念	niàn	to read aloud; to miss; idea	8	念	概念 gàiniàn concept; 观念 guānniàn idea; concept
83	派	pài	to send; group; style	9	派	派出所 pàichūsuǒ local police station; 派遣 pàiqiǎn to send; to dispatch
84	配	pèi	to match; to go with	10	配	分配 fēnpèi to allocate; to assign; 配合 pèihé to cooperate
85	盆	pén	basin; pot	9	盆	盆地 péndì basin (geography)
86	碰	pèng	to bump; to touch; to meet	13	碰	碰见 pèngjiàn to run into; 碰撞 pèngzhuàng to collide
87	匹	pǐ	measure word for horses; to match	4	匹	匹配 pǐpèi to match
88	拼	pīn	to put together; to spell; to go all out	9	拼	拼音 pīnyīn pinyin; 拼命 pīnmìng with all one's might
89	齐	qí	neat; even; together	6	齊	整齐 zhěngqí neat; tidy; 齐全 qíquán complete
90	欠	qiàn	to owe; to lack	4	欠	欠缺 qiànquē to lack; shortcoming; 拖欠 tuōqiàn to be behind on payments
91	曲	qǔ	song; tune	6	曲	歌曲 gēqǔ song; 弯曲 wānqū curved; bent
92	权	quán	right; power; authority	6	權	权利 quánlì right (legal); 权力 quánlì power; authority
93	劝	quàn	to advise; to persuade	4	勸	劝说 quànshuō to persuade; 劝阻 quànzǔ to dissuade
94	忍	rěn	to bear; to endure	7	忍	忍受 rěnshòu to endure; to bear; 忍耐 rěnnài to endure; patience
95	晒	shài	to bask; to dry in the sun	10	曬
96	舍	shě	to give up; to part with	8	捨	舍不得 shěbude to hate to part with; 宿舍 sùshè dormitory
97	设	shè	to set up; to design	6	設	建设 jiànshè to build; construction; 设计 shèjì to design; design
98	神	shén	god; spirit; magical	9	神	精神 jīngshen spirit; energetic; 神秘 shénmì mysterious
99	升	shēng	to rise; liter	4	升	上升 shàngshēng to rise; 升级 shēngjí to upgrade
100	胜	shèng	to win; victory	9	勝	胜利 shènglì victory; 战胜 zhànshèng to defeat; to overcome
101	诗	shī	poem; poetry	8	詩	诗人 shīrén poet; 诗歌 shīgē poetry
102	石	shí	stone; rock	5	石	石头 shítou stone; rock; 石油 shíyóu oil; petroleum
103	似	sì	similar; to seem	6	似	似乎 sìhū it seems; 似的 shìde as if; like
104	势	shì	power; force; trend	8	勢	优势 yōushì advantage; 形势 xíngshì situation
105	守	shǒu	to guard; to keep; to observe	6	守	遵守 zūnshǒu to obey; to follow (rules); 防守 fángshǒu to defend; defense
106	私	sī	private; personal	7	私	私人 sīrén private; personal; 隐私 yǐnsī privacy
107	素	sù	plain; vegetarian; element	10	素	因素 yīnsù factor; 素质 sùzhì quality; character
108	宿	sù	to stay overnight; lodging	11	宿	宿舍 sùshè dormitory; 住宿 zhùsù accommodation; to stay (overnight)
109	挑	tiāo	to choose; to carry on a pole	9	挑	挑选 tiāoxuǎn to choose; to pick; 挑战 tiǎozhàn challenge
110	团	tuán	group; ball; round	6	團	团队 tuánduì team; 集团 jítuán group; corporation
111	退	tuì	to retreat; to return (sth)	9	退	退出 tuìchū to quit; to withdraw; 退休 tuìxiū to retire
112	拖	tuō	to drag; to pull; to delay	8	拖	拖鞋 tuōxié slippers; 拖延 tuōyán to delay
113	伟	wěi	great	6	偉	伟大 wěidà great; 雄伟 xióngwěi magnificent
114	未	wèi	not yet	5	未	未来 wèilái future; 未必 wèibì not necessarily
115	胃	wèi	stomach	9	胃	胃口 wèikǒu appetite
116	武	wǔ	martial; military	8	武	武术 wǔshù martial arts; 武器 wǔqì weapon
117	夕	xī	evening; sunset	3	夕	除夕 chúxī Chinese New Year's Eve; 前夕 qiánxī eve
118	析	xī	to analyze; to divide	8	析	分析 fēnxī to analyze; analysis; 解析 jiěxī to analyze
119	席	xí	seat; mat; banquet	10	席	主席 zhǔxí chairman; 出席 chūxí to attend
120	闲	xián	free; idle; leisure	7	閒	休闲 xiūxián leisure; 空闲 kòngxián free time; idle
121	显	xiǎn	obvious; to show	9	顯	明显 míngxiǎn obvious; 显示 xiǎnshì to show; to display
122	县	xiàn	county	7	縣
123	形	xíng	shape; form	7	形	形成 xíngchéng to form; 形式 xíngshì form; shape
124	宣	xuān	to announce; to declare	9	宣	宣布 xuānbù to announce; 宣传 xuānchuán to promote; to publicize
125	寻	xún	to look for; to seek	6	尋	寻找 xúnzhǎo to look for; 寻求 xúnqiú to seek
126	训	xùn	to train; to teach	5	訓	训练 xùnliàn to train; training; 培训 péixùn to train; training
127	咬	yǎo	to bite	9	咬
128	依	yī	according to; to rely on	8	依	依据 yījù basis; according to; 依然 yīrán still; as before
129	乙	yǐ	second; B	1	乙
130	亿	yì	hundred million	3	億	亿万 yìwàn hundreds of millions
131	义	yì	meaning; justice	3	義	意义 yìyì meaning; significance; 义务 yìwù duty; obligation
132	益	yì	benefit; profit	10	益	利益 lìyì interest; benefit; 有益 yǒuyì beneficial
133	映	yìng	to reflect; to shine	9	映	反映 fǎnyìng to reflect; to report; 放映 fàngyìng to show (a film)
134	余	yú	extra; remaining; more than	7	餘	其余 qíyú the rest; 业余 yèyú amateur; spare-time
135	玉	yù	jade	5	玉	玉米 yùmǐ corn
136	圆	yuán	round; circle; yuan	10	圓	圆满 yuánmǎn satisfactory; perfect; 团圆 tuányuán reunion
137	载	zài	to carry; to load (as in 下载)	10	載	下载 xiàzài to download; 记载 jìzǎi to record (in writing)
138	造	zào	to make; to build	10	造	造成 zàochéng to cause; 创造 chuàngzào to create
139	占	zhàn	to occupy; to take up	5	占	占线 zhànxiàn (phone line) busy; 占卜 zhānbǔ to tell fortunes
140	召	zhào	to call together; to summon	5	召	召开 zhàokāi to convene; to hold (a meeting); 号召 hàozhào to call on; appeal
141	政	zhèng	politics; government	9	政	政治 zhèngzhì politics; 政府 zhèngfǔ government
142	织	zhī	to weave; to knit	8	織	组织 zǔzhī organization; to organize; 纺织 fǎngzhī textile; spinning and weaving
143	制	zhì	system; to control; to make	8	制	制度 zhìdù system; rules; 制定 zhìdìng to draw up; to formulate
144	治	zhì	to govern; to treat (illness)	8	治	政治 zhèngzhì politics; 治疗 zhìliáo to treat; treatment
145	致	zhì	to send; to cause; fine	10	致	导致 dǎozhì to lead to; to cause; 一致 yízhì unanimous; consistent
146	猪	zhū	pig	11	豬
147	竹	zhú	bamboo	6	竹	竹子 zhúzi bamboo; 竹竿 zhúgān bamboo pole
148	抓	zhuā	to grab; to catch	7	抓	抓紧 zhuājǐn to hurry; to make the most of
149	状	zhuàng	shape; state; condition	7	狀	状态 zhuàngtài state; condition; 状况 zhuàngkuàng condition; situation
150	追	zhuī	to chase; to pursue	9	追	追求 zhuīqiú to pursue; 追究 zhuījiū to look into; to hold sb responsible

How to use it

Read the pinyin and meaning on the sheet's first page, and say each character out loud.
Follow the row that builds the character one stroke at a time, tracing each new stroke in the order shown.
Write it from memory in the empty boxes and its pinyin on the line, then scan the QR code to check your strokes online.

Common questions

How many characters do you need to write for HSK 5?

150 new ones. The 2025 HSK syllabus (HSK 3.0) adds 150 characters to its handwriting list, 书写字 (shū xiě zì), at HSK 5, for 550 in all with the levels below. You need to recognize more than you write: 431 new reading characters at HSK 5, 1,527 in all.

Is the HSK 5 characters PDF free?

Yes. It is a free PDF in A4 or US Letter, with no account or email needed; the page picks the paper used in your country. The 150 characters come in 8 sheets of up to 20, 71 pages on A4, and every sheet has a QR code that opens online practice for its characters.

What is on each page?

Each sheet starts with its characters' pinyin and meanings. Then every character gets its stroke order as a strip, a row of 田字格 (tián zì gé) boxes that adds one stroke at a time in color, empty boxes to write it from memory and a line for its pinyin. Stroke-direction cards close each sheet.

Which HSK 5 characters have the most strokes?

靠 (kào, to lean on) has 15 strokes, the most at HSK 5; 乙 (yǐ, second) has just 1. The average is 7.4 strokes.

How is this different from the HSK 5 writing workbook?

The writing workbook traces every word of the level in fading boxes, a word at a time. These sheets are for the 150 single characters HSK 5 asks you to write from memory, built up one stroke at a time. Learn the characters here first, then write them inside words in the workbook.

Can I print copies for my class?

Yes. Print as many copies as you like — it's free. Print every sheet or only the ones your class needs; to change the characters on a sheet, open it in the worksheet generator and edit it there.

Keep going

HSK 5 writing workbook · HSK 6 handwriting characters · HSK 4 handwriting characters · All 1,200 HSK handwriting characters · Stroke order worksheet maker · Chinese writing grid paper · HSK 5 lessons with Mei Lin

Handwriting characters by level

HSK 1–2 · HSK 3 · HSK 4 · HSK 5 · HSK 6 · HSK 7–9

Character list: the 2025 HSK syllabus, 书写字 (Center for Language Education and Cooperation). Pinyin choices, meanings and traditional forms: SayMei. Updated Oct 27, 2026.