Hanzi Sheets
Chinese Stroke Order Worksheet Generator
Paste any characters and get a printable practice sheet where every row ends with step-by-step stroke-order diagrams — not just the finished character.
Pre-filled with three common characters. Swap in your own words, pick a grid, print.
No sign-up · Free every day · Prints to A4 or US Letter
Why stroke order matters for kids
Children who learn the correct stroke sequence from the start write faster and more neatly, because each character becomes one smooth, repeatable motion instead of a drawing they assemble differently every time. Correct order also matters practically: handwriting recognition apps and paper dictionaries that index by stroke count assume the standard sequence.
The core rules cover most characters: write top to bottom (三), left to right (你), horizontal strokes before vertical ones (十), outside enclosures before the contents (同), and the center stroke before symmetric sides (小). Once a child internalizes these patterns, new characters stop feeling arbitrary.
How the step-by-step strip works
Most worksheets print only the gray model character. Hanzi Sheets adds a strip of mini diagrams at the end of the first row for every character: the first cell shows stroke 1 alone, the second shows strokes 1–2, and so on until the character is complete, with the newest stroke highlighted in red and earlier strokes in gray. Your child always knows exactly which stroke comes next — you don't have to look it up or guess.
Stroke data covers roughly 6,500 Simplified characters (Hanzi Writer dataset) and their Traditional counterparts (Make Me a Hanzi). A handful of rare characters have no data; those simply print without the strip.
Setting up a good practice session
For ages 5–8, keep a sheet to 6–10 characters with the grid size at L (16 mm) so young hands have room. Older children do fine at M (13 mm). One row of tracing per character with the 3:1 trace-to-blank ratio works well for a first pass; switch to "All blank" the next day to check retention. When a character keeps going wrong, tap it in the preview to add it to the mistake book, then print a review sheet of just those characters at the end of the week.
FAQ
What is Chinese stroke order?
Stroke order is the conventional sequence for writing a character's strokes — top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical, outside before inside. It turns each character into a repeatable motion and keeps handwriting legible.
Does the worksheet show stroke order step by step?
Yes — a strip of progressive mini diagrams sits beside the first row of every character, with the current stroke highlighted in red.
Can I print Traditional-character stroke order worksheets?
Yes. Toggle 繁體 Traditional at the top; stroke data, handwriting font and zhuyin labels all switch over.
Is it free?
3 worksheets per day, up to 30 characters each, no sign-up. A Pro plan with unlimited sheets is on the way.