In our previous lesson on how to write Chinese characters we taught you to draw the interior of boxes only after creating the surrounding framework. Today we add a small extra rule that will help you finish them off:

  • 先外后里再封口:(先进入后关门)日、四、田、回、国、目、 由、且、曲、困、因、园、圆、团、图、圈、囚、围

In all of the characters listed above, the final stroke drawn is the very bottom stroke. This "seals" the box and is written after the interior components are all drawn. This rule is really easy to remember. To start practicing, just click through to the writing section of this lesson and practice on our selection of relevant characters. If you are not a premium subscriber, you can still practice writing characters by visiting our public chinese writing tool.
 said on
August 27, 2009
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 said on
May 26, 2012
I believe that 曲 qu1 (tune) in this lesson is actually 曲 qu3 ?

曲子 qu3 zi - song

弯曲 wan1 qu1 - round, curved
 said on
May 27, 2012
@murrayjames,

Yes, you are right! Thanks very much! Fixed.