Learn Mandarin online - stroke order differences - Page 2 -

> Learning Chinese > Reading and Writing
stroke order differences
Home New Posts

Login: Pass: Log in or register for standard view and full access.





Page 2 of 2 < 1 2






skylee -



Quote:


Originally Posted by Jose

1. 戈 I originally learned to write this character, either isolated or as a side component, with
the dot on the top-right corner last. However, Skylee's link shows a different order, starting as
弋 and finishing with the stroke at the bottom. This is apparently the standard stroke order in
Taiwan, whereas the one I use is probably (I think) the standard one on the Mainland


I too write the dot last. I guess this is how I was taught to write it when I was a kid. I also
agree with your observation about 樂. I used to write the upper part from left to right but then
friends and other people pointed out that it was wrong (obviously they had been taught the
"correct" order) so I had to change (peer pressure) and then I found that the "correct" order was
in line with the order of the stroke input method.

I generally agree with nipponman's comment, especially with longhand writing. But you see if you
use stroke input method (like on your handset) the stroke order does matter to some extent.



Pleco Software Learn Chinese with our Dictionaries for Palm and Pocket PC.
Learn Chinese in China Learn to speak Chinese 1MonthChinese.com -Mandarin School in China.
Chinese Textbooks Wide range, cheap, varied languages. Also Chinese cartoons, toys, gifts.
Study Chinese in Beijing Affordable Mandarin language courses at BLCU with ChinaUnipath.com.
HNHSoft Dictionary Learn Chinese on Smartphone and PDA with real person's voice.
XueXueXue IQChinese Get beyond the plateau.Take your Mandarin to a new level.
Chinese in Lijiang Short term Chinese study in a beautiful town with a focus on daily life.
MandarinTube Chinese Access to current everyday Chinese language and culture, 24/7.
Learn Chinese Homestay Chinese course, cultural activities & volunteer events in China.
Learn Chinese Online 1-on-1 instant tutoring, diverse courses, native teachers. FREE trial now!
Nihao Chinese Progam Free one-on-one Chinese lesson. Win 5-years of free lessons now!


About Ads (and how to hide them) -- Your message here









nipponman -



Quote:


Originally Posted by Jose

4. In traditional characters like 學, 興, 彎 or 樂 I always write the middle part before the
sides when doing the top (e.g. 樂 = 白 + 幺 + 幺 + 木). That's the way they taught me to
write these characters a long time ago, and seems to be the prescribed order, according to
Skylee's link. However, some Taiwan/HK/Mc people prefer to do the top of these characters from
left to right (樂 = 幺 + 白 + 幺 + 木).


I just realized that in when I started chinese I wrote 樂 like 白 + 幺 + 幺 + 木, but now,
after a little inspection, I find I write it like 幺 + 白 + 幺 + 木, which further convinces
me that it doesn't really matter.



Quote:


Originally Posted by skylee

But you see if you use stroke input method (like on your handset) the stroke order does matter to
some extent.


I can see your point here. Although I don't use things like that, I can see how it could be useful
to know the "correct" stroke order. I'm not saying stroke order isn't important per se, just once
you know the general rules, top to bottom, left to right, inside then outside, etc. its not that
big a deal. What I think is more important is being able to count the strokes. I do that all the
time when searching for characters by radical. I am often frustrated b/c my dictionary lists
radicals in simplified and I often forget and count the strokes by traditional standards, and am
sometimes several strokes off, but thats neither here nor there.










Jose -

Out of curiosity, I have checked the stroke order for the traditional four-stroke plant radical
(艹) in Skylee's link, and I have found that it is actually different from either of the two
options I mentioned. It appears there as vertical + horizontal + horizontal + vertical.










nipponman -



Quote:


Originally Posted by Jose

Out of curiosity, I have checked the stroke order for the traditional four-stroke plant radical
(艹) in Skylee's link, and I have found that it is actually different from either of the two
options I mentioned. It appears there as vertical + horizontal + horizontal + vertical.


Wow, Thats crazy. Does anybody write it this way? I go hor. +vert. + hor. + vert. as I suspect
most people do.










Altair -

I think part of the discrepancy in stroke order comes from whether you are stressing ease of
practicing or ease of writing with good proportion.

Consider a character like 臣. If I had to write it out fifty times, I would much prefer to use
the six-stroke version that draws the top and right first and ends with and "L" stroke. If I had
to make it look well-proportioned, I would much prefer to use the seven-stroke version that begins
with "丨"on the left, using it as the spine for the rest of the stokes (一,丨,乙,一,丨,一)
from top to bottom. A year or two ago someone on this forum suggested that the official Japanese
order may have followed traditional recommendations of calligraphers, which presumably would have
favored esthetics over efficiency.



Quote:

Also in traditional characters, the plant radical 艹 (three strokes in the simplified standard)
is written as two crosses (i.e. four strokes). I would expect the stroke order to be like two 十
(horizontal + vertical + horizontal + vertical). However, I remember using a textbook that would
show the correct order as vertical + horizontal + vertical + horizontal, which I find a bit
strange. I always hesitate with this radical when I write in traditional characters.

From the looks of this radical, I have always assume it was writted vertical + horizontal +
horizontal + vertical. The two crosses are definitely not symmetrical and do not appear to be
written in the same way. I had assumed that this was to avoid monotony, which seems to be a
general principal.

By the way, 隹 seems to be a component that differs between current Japanese and Chinese
practice. I first learned to finish the three horizontal strokes together, which I assumed was
more like cursive practice. Since I have tried to switch to Chinese practice, I end with the right
vertical stroke and the bottom horizontal stroke.

Another one that drives be crazy is 田. My Japanese textbooks had the final two strokes as 二,
whereas my Chinese books all have it as 土.

The only two frequent character that still drive me crazy are 飛 and 垂. 垂 is especially
depressing.












All times are GMT +8. The time now is 06:51 PM.














Learn Chinese, Free Chinese Lesson, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet