Add to Chrome

Free · 35 look-alikes

Chinese characters that look alike

己 or 已? 拨 or 拔? The characters learners mix up most, each with the one stroke or part that tells them apart.

白鹤báihèwhite crane

Which one is it?

1 of 10

自？

zìjǐ · oneself

Speed

己 · 已 · 巳

  • 己jǐself
  • 已yǐalready
  • 巳sìsixth of the twelve Earthly Branches (the snake)

Look at how far the last stroke climbs on the left. In 己 it starts at the middle line and leaves the top open; in 已 it climbs halfway and leaves a gap; in 巳 it closes the box.

  1. wǒ我zìjǐ自己lái来。

    I’ll do it myself.

    自己 zìjǐ · oneself

  2. tā他yǐjīng已经zǒu走le了。

    He’s already left.

    已经 yǐjīng · already

末 · 未

  • 末mòend; tip
  • 未wèinot yet

Look at which line is longer. 末 (end, tip) has the long line on top, marking the tip of a tree 木; 未 (not yet) has the short one on top.

  1. zhè这gè个zhōumò周末nǐ你yǒukòng有空ma吗？

    Are you free this weekend?

    周末 zhōumò · weekend

  2. wèilái未来huì会gèng更hǎo好。

    The future will be better.

    未来 wèilái · future

土 · 士

  • 土tǔsoil; earth
  • 士shìscholar; person

Look at which line is longer. 土 (earth) is wide at the bottom, like the ground; 士 (scholar) is wide on top.

  1. wǒ我xiǎng想chī吃tǔdòu土豆。

    I’d like some potato.

    土豆 tǔdòu · potato

  2. nǚshì女士men们，xiānsheng先生men们，wǎnshang晚上hǎo好！

    Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!

    女士 nǚshì · lady; Ms

人 · 入 · 八 · 儿

  • 人rénperson
  • 入rùto enter
  • 八bāeight
  • 儿érson; child; the -r ending

Look at which stroke is the long one. In 人 (person) the left stroke is long and the right one starts partway down it; in 入 (to enter) the right stroke is long and the left one starts partway down it; in 八 (eight) the two don’t touch. 儿 (son; the -r ending) doesn’t touch either, but its right stroke runs down, turns right along the bottom and hooks up.

  1. tā他shì是Zhōngguó中国rén人。

    He’s Chinese.

    中国人 Zhōngguórén · Chinese person

  2. rùkǒu入口zài在nǎr哪儿？

    Where’s the entrance?

    入口 rùkǒu · entrance

  3. wǒ我bāyuè八月qù去Shànghǎi上海。

    I’m going to Shanghai in August.

    八月 bāyuè · August

  4. tā他yǒu有yī一gè个érzi儿子。

    He has a son.

    儿子 érzi · son

千 · 干 · 于

  • 千qiānthousand
  • 干gāndry; (gàn) to do
  • 于yúat; in; to

Look at the first stroke and the last. 千 (thousand) starts with a short stroke falling to the left; 干 (to do; dry) starts with a flat line; 于 (at, in) is 干 with a hook at the bottom.

  1. qiānwàn千万bié别wàng忘le了！

    Whatever you do, don’t forget!

    千万 qiānwàn · by all means; ten million

  2. fángjiān房间hěn很gānjìng干净。

    The room is clean.

    干净 gānjìng · clean

  3. wǒmen我们zhōngyú终于dào到le了！

    We’re here at last!

    终于 zhōngyú · at last

午 · 牛

  • 午wǔnoon
  • 牛niúcow; ox

Look at the top. In 牛 (cow) the middle stroke pokes up through it, like a horn; in 午 (noon) it doesn’t.

  1. wǒmen我们zhōngwǔ中午jiàn见。

    See you at noon.

    中午 zhōngwǔ · noon

  2. wǒ我měitiān每天hē喝niúnǎi牛奶。

    I drink milk every day.

    牛奶 niúnǎi · milk

天 · 夫

  • 天tiānsky; day
  • 夫fūhusband; man

Look at the top line. In 夫 (husband; man) the middle stroke pokes up through it; in 天 (sky, day) it doesn’t.

  1. jīntiān今天hěn很lěng冷。

    It’s cold today.

    今天 jīntiān · today

  2. tā她zhàngfu丈夫shì是yīshēng医生。

    Her husband is a doctor.

    丈夫 zhàngfu · husband

田 · 由 · 甲 · 申

  • 田tiánfield
  • 由yóufrom; because of
  • 甲jiǎfirst; shell; nail
  • 申shēnto state

Look at where the middle line pokes out of the box: nowhere in 田 (field), at the top in 由 (from; because of), at the bottom in 甲 (first; shell; nail), at both ends in 申 (to state).

  1. zhèlǐ这里de的tiándì田地hěn很dà大。

    The fields here are big.

    田地 tiándì · field; farmland

  2. yóuyú由于xiàyǔ下雨，bǐsài比赛qǔxiāo取消le了。

    The game was called off because of the rain.

    由于 yóuyú · because of

  3. nǐ你de的zhǐjia指甲tài太cháng长le了。

    Your nails are too long.

    指甲 zhǐjia · fingernail

  4. wǒ我xiǎng想shēnqǐng申请zhè这gè个gōngzuò工作。

    I want to apply for this job.

    申请 shēnqǐng · to apply for

刀 · 力

  • 刀dāoknife
  • 力lìstrength

Look at the slanted stroke. In 力 (strength) it pokes up through the top; in 刀 (knife) it stays below.

  1. zhè这bǎ把dāo刀hěn很kuài快。

    This knife is sharp.

    刀 dāo · knife

  2. tā他xuéxí学习hěn很nǔlì努力。

    He studies hard.

    努力 nǔlì · to work hard

大 · 太 · 犬

  • 大dàbig
  • 太tàitoo; very
  • 犬quǎndog

Look for the dot. 大 (big) has none; 太 (too) has it below, between the legs; 犬 (dog) has it at the top right. 犬 is the written word: say 狗 (gǒu).

  1. wǒ我jiějie姐姐zài在shàng上dàxué大学。

    My older sister is at university.

    大学 dàxué · university

  2. jīntiān今天tàiyáng太阳hěn很dà大。

    The sun is strong today.

    太阳 tàiyáng · sun

王 · 玉 · 主

  • 王wángking
  • 玉yùjade
  • 主zhǔowner; host; main

Look for the dot. 王 (king) has none; 玉 (jade) has it at the bottom right; 主 (owner; main) has it on top.

  1. nǐ你kàn看guo过《Xiǎo Wángzǐ小王子》ma吗？

    Have you read The Little Prince?

    王子 wángzǐ · prince

  2. wǒ我xǐhuan喜欢chī吃yùmǐ玉米。

    I like corn.

    玉米 yùmǐ · corn

  3. wǒ我zhǔyào主要zàijiā在家gōngzuò工作。

    I mostly work from home.

    主要 zhǔyào · main; mainly

鸟 · 乌

  • 鸟niǎobird
  • 乌wūcrow; black

Look for the dot. 乌 (crow; black) is 鸟 (bird) without the dot of its eye: a crow is so black you can’t see it.

  1. shù树shàng上yǒu有yī一zhī只xiǎoniǎo小鸟。

    There’s a little bird in the tree.

    小鸟 xiǎoniǎo · little bird

  2. wǒ我xiǎng想hē喝wūlóngchá乌龙茶。

    I’d like oolong tea.

    乌龙茶 wūlóngchá · oolong tea

免 · 兔

  • 免miǎnto exempt; to avoid
  • 兔tùrabbit

Look for the dot. 兔 (rabbit) is 免 (to excuse, as in free of charge) with one more dot: think of it as its tail.

  1. zhège这个shì是miǎnfèi免费de的。

    This one is free.

    免费 miǎnfèi · free (of charge)

  2. wǒ我jiā家yǒu有yī一zhī只tùzi兔子。

    We have a rabbit at home.

    兔子 tùzi · rabbit

拨 · 拔

  • 拨bōto dial; to move with a finger
  • 拔báto pull out

Look at the right side. 拔 (to pull out) has what looks like 友 with a dot on top; 拨 (to dial; to move with a finger) has 发. One teacher’s way to remember it: pulling is hard work, so the friend 友 in 拔 breaks a sweat.

  1. yǒu有wèntí问题qǐng请bōdǎ拨打zhè这gè个diànhuà电话。

    If you have a problem, call this number.

    拨打 bōdǎ · to dial (a number)

  2. wǒ我míngtiān明天yào要qù去báyá拔牙。

    I’m having a tooth pulled tomorrow.

    拔牙 báyá · to pull a tooth

折 · 拆

  • 折zhéto fold; discount
  • 拆chāito take apart; to open

Look for the dot. 拆 (to take apart; to open) is 折 (to fold; a discount) with one more dot.

  1. jīntiān今天yīfu衣服dǎzhé打折。

    Clothes are on sale today.

    打折 dǎzhé · to be on sale

  2. wǒ我kěyǐ可以chāi拆zhè这gè个lǐwù礼物ma吗？

    Can I open this present?

    拆 chāi · to take apart; to open

没 · 设

  • 没méinot have; did not
  • 设shèto set up

Look at the left side. 没 (not) has 氵, water; 设 (to set up) has 讠, speech. So 设有 (shèyǒu, “has, is equipped with”) means the opposite of 没有 (méiyǒu, “doesn’t have”): a sign saying a hotel 设有 a car park is good news.

  1. wǒ我méiyǒu没有qián钱。

    I don’t have any money.

    没有 méiyǒu · not have

  2. zhè这jiā家jiǔdiàn酒店shèyǒu设有tíngchēchǎng停车场。

    This hotel has a car park.

    设有 shèyǒu · to have; to be equipped with

喝 · 渴

  • 喝hēto drink
  • 渴kěthirsty

Look at the left side, which says why. 喝 (to drink) has 口, the mouth; 渴 (thirsty) has 氵, the water you want.

  1. nǐ你yào要duō多hēshuǐ喝水。

    You should drink more water.

    喝水 hēshuǐ · to drink water

  2. wǒ我kǒukě口渴le了。

    I’m thirsty.

    口渴 kǒukě · thirsty

晴 · 睛 · 请 · 情 · 清

  • 晴qíngsunny
  • 睛jīngeye; eyeball
  • 请qǐngplease; to invite
  • 情qíngfeeling; love
  • 清qīngclear; clean

Look at the left side. All five have 青 (qīng) on the right, so they sound alike; the left says what each is about: 日 the sun in 晴 (sunny), 目 the eye in 睛 (eye), 讠 speech in 请 (please), 忄 the heart in 情 (feeling), 氵 water in 清 (clear).

  1. jīntiān今天shì是qíngtiān晴天。

    It’s a sunny day today.

    晴天 qíngtiān · sunny day

  2. tā她de的yǎnjing眼睛hěn很dà大。

    She has big eyes.

    眼睛 yǎnjing · eye

  3. qǐngwèn请问，xǐshǒujiān洗手间zài在nǎr哪儿？

    Excuse me, where’s the bathroom?

    请问 qǐngwèn · excuse me, may I ask

  4. wǒ我jīntiān今天xīnqíng心情hěn很hǎo好。

    I’m in a good mood today.

    心情 xīnqíng · mood

  5. nǐ你tīng听qīngchu清楚le了ma吗？

    Did you hear that clearly?

    清楚 qīngchu · clear

问 · 间

  • 问wènto ask
  • 间jiānbetween; room

Look inside the door 门. With 口, the mouth, it is 问 (to ask); with 日 it is 间 (between; a room).

  1. wǒ我yǒu有yī一gè个wèntí问题。

    I have a question.

    问题 wèntí · question; problem

  2. nǐ你yǒu有shíjiān时间ma吗？

    Do you have time?

    时间 shíjiān · time

往 · 住

  • 往wǎngtoward
  • 住zhùto live; to stay

Look at the left side. Both have 主 on the right: 往 (toward) has 彳, two slanted strokes and an upright; 住 (to live) has 亻, the person.

  1. yīzhí一直wǎngqián往前zǒu走。

    Go straight ahead.

    往 wǎng · toward

  2. nǐ你zhù住zài在nǎr哪儿？

    Where do you live?

    住 zhù · to live; to stay

休 · 体

  • 休xiūto rest
  • 体tǐbody

Look at the right side. 休 (to rest) is a person 亻 by a tree 木; 体 (body) has 本, the tree with a line across its foot.

  1. nǐ你xiūxi休息yīxià一下ba吧。

    Take a break.

    休息 xiūxi · to rest

  2. nǐ你shēntǐ身体hǎo好ma吗？

    How’s your health?

    身体 shēntǐ · body; health

候 · 侯

  • 候hòutime; to wait
  • 侯hóumarquis; nobleman

Look between the left side and the rest. 候 (time, as in 时候) has a short upright stroke there; 侯 (marquis) doesn’t, and you will rarely meet it.

  1. nǐ你shénme什么shíhou时候lái来？

    When are you coming?

    时候 shíhou · time; when

师 · 帅

  • 师shīteacher; master
  • 帅shuàihandsome

Look at the top of the right side. 师 (teacher) has a line across the top of its 巾; 帅 (handsome) doesn’t, so it has one stroke fewer. Their left side is the same.

  1. lǎoshī老师，wǒ我yǒu有yī一gè个wèntí问题。

    Teacher, I have a question.

    老师 lǎoshī · teacher

  2. nàge那个shuàigē帅哥shì是shéi谁？

    Who’s that handsome guy?

    帅哥 shuàigē · handsome guy

右 · 左 · 石

  • 右yòuright
  • 左zuǒleft
  • 石shístone

Look at the top and what’s under it. 右 (right) and 左 (left) have a cross on top, with 口 under it in 右 and 工 in 左; in 石 (stone) the slanted stroke hangs below the top line instead of crossing it.

  1. yínháng银行zài在yòubian右边。

    The bank is on the right.

    右边 yòubian · the right

  2. wǒ我zuò坐zuǒbian左边。

    I’ll sit on the left.

    左边 zuǒbian · the left

  3. zhè这kuài块shítou石头hěn很zhòng重。

    This stone is heavy.

    石头 shítou · stone

学 · 字

  • 学xuéto study
  • 字zìcharacter; written word

Look at the top. Both have 子, a child, underneath: 学 (to study) has three short strokes over a cover; 字 (character) has the roof 宀, one dot over a cover.

  1. wǒ我shì是xuéshēng学生。

    I’m a student.

    学生 xuésheng · student

  2. zhè这gè个Hànzì汉字zěnme怎么dú读？

    How do you read this character?

    汉字 Hànzì · Chinese character

衣 · 农

  • 衣yīclothes
  • 农nóngfarming; farmer

Look at the top. 衣 (clothes) starts with a dot over a line, 亠; 农 (farming) starts with a cover, 冖.

  1. zhè这jiàn件yīfu衣服hěn很hǎokàn好看。

    This top looks great.

    衣服 yīfu · clothes

  2. tā他yéye爷爷shì是nóngmín农民。

    His grandpa is a farmer.

    农民 nóngmín · farmer

车 · 东

  • 车chēcar; vehicle
  • 东dōngeast

Look at the bottom. 车 (car) ends in a straight upright line; 东 (east) ends in a hook with a stroke on each side.

  1. zhè这liàng辆qìchē汽车shì是xīn新de的。

    This car is new.

    汽车 qìchē · car

  2. nǐ你xiǎng想mǎi买shénme什么dōngxi东西？

    What do you want to buy?

    东西 dōngxi · thing; stuff

日 · 目 · 曰

  • 日rìsun; day
  • 目mùeye
  • 曰yuē(literary) to say, as in 子曰, “the Master said”

Look inside and at the shape. 日 (sun, day) has one line inside, 目 (eye) two; 曰 (to say) is wider than it is tall, and in print its middle line doesn’t reach the right side.

  1. zhù祝nǐ你shēngrì-kuàilè生日快乐！

    Happy birthday!

    生日 shēngrì · birthday

  2. zhè这gè个tímù题目hěn很nán难。

    This question is hard.

    题目 tímù · question (in a test); title

白 · 百 · 自

  • 白báiwhite
  • 百bǎihundred
  • 自zìself; from

Look at the top. 白 (white) is 日 with a short stroke on top; 百 (hundred) puts a line over 白; 自 (self; from) is taller, with two lines inside.

  1. wǒ我xǐhuan喜欢báisè白色。

    I like white.

    白色 báisè · white

  2. zhè这běn本shū书yībǎi一百kuài块。

    This book is a hundred kuai.

    一百 yìbǎi · one hundred

  3. wǒ我qí骑zìxíngchē自行车shàngbān上班。

    I cycle to work.

    自行车 zìxíngchē · bicycle

贝 · 见

  • 贝bèishell
  • 见jiànto see; to meet

Look at the last stroke. 贝 (shell) ends in a dot; 见 (to see) ends in a long curve with a hook.

  1. bǎobèi宝贝，bié别kū哭le了。

    Don’t cry, sweetie.

    宝贝 bǎobèi · treasure; darling

  2. nǐ你kànjiàn看见wǒ我de的shǒujī手机le了ma吗？

    Have you seen my phone?

    看见 kànjiàn · to see

历 · 厉

  • 历lìto go through; calendar
  • 厉lìsevere; strict

Look inside 厂. With 力 (strength) it is 历 (to go through; calendar, as in 历史); with 万 (ten thousand) it is 厉 (severe, as in 厉害).

  1. wǒ我xǐhuan喜欢Zhōngguó中国lìshǐ历史。

    I like Chinese history.

    历史 lìshǐ · history

  2. nǐ你zhēn真lìhai厉害！

    You’re amazing!

    厉害 lìhai · amazing; fierce

今 · 令

  • 今jīnnow; present
  • 令lìngorder; to make

Look at the bottom. 令 (order; to make) is 今 (now) with one more short stroke under it.

  1. wǒ我jīnnián今年èrshí二十suì岁。

    I’m twenty this year.

    今年 jīnnián · this year

  2. zhè这shì是mìnglìng命令！

    That’s an order!

    命令 mìnglìng · order; to order

找 · 我

  • 找zhǎoto look for
  • 我wǒI; me

Look at the top left. 找 (to look for) is a hand 扌 next to 戈; 我 (I) starts with one more slanted stroke on top.

  1. nǐ你zhǎo找shénme什么？

    What are you looking for?

    找 zhǎo · to look for

  2. wǒ我hěn很hǎo好，xièxie谢谢。

    I’m fine, thanks.

    我 wǒ · I; me

买 · 卖

  • 买mǎito buy
  • 卖màito sell

Look at the top. 卖 (to sell) is 买 (to buy) with 十 on top: you sell when you have more.

  1. wǒ我xiǎng想mǎi买yī一gè个shǒujī手机。

    I want to buy a phone.

    买 mǎi · to buy

  2. zhèlǐ这里mài卖shuǐguǒ水果ma吗？

    Do you sell fruit here?

    卖 mài · to sell

把 · 抱

  • 把bǎto hold; brings the object before the verb
  • 抱bàoto hold in your arms; to hug

Look at the right side. Both have 扌, the hand, on the left; 把 (to hold, and the 把 that brings the object forward) has 巴, and 抱 (to hold in your arms, to hug) has 包, a bundle: think of a bundle held in your arms.

  1. wǒ我mǎi买le了yī一bǎ把sǎn伞。

    I bought an umbrella.

    把 bǎ · measure word for things with a handle

  2. wǒmen我们yōngbào拥抱le了yīxià一下。

    We gave each other a hug.

    拥抱 yōngbào · to hug

Now read them in a real story

汉字里的画Chinese characters that look like picturesHSK 3 · 1 minRead it free

Why do so many Chinese characters look alike?

Most characters are built from a few hundred parts, so many share them: 晴, 睛, 请, 情 and 清 all have 青 on the right, which gives the sound, and differ in the part on the left, which gives the meaning. Others differ by one stroke, as 己 and 已 do, or by a dot, as 大 and 太 do.

How do I stop mixing them up?

Learn each one in a word, not alone (自己 and 已经, not 己 and 已), and learn its parts: the left side of 喝 and 渴 says whether it’s about the mouth or water. Read a lot, and the shapes stop looking alike, as they do for Chinese readers.

Are 夂 and 夊 different?

Only just. Both are drawings of a foot pointing down, and in most characters they are two ways of writing the same part: 夂 tends to sit at the top or left (条, 处), 夊 at the bottom (夏, 复), where its last stroke reaches further. Most fonts and most people write both as 夂.

Is the top of 冒 日 or 曰?

Neither: it is 冃, an old drawing of a hat, over 目. 冒 first meant a hat, a word now written 帽, as in 帽子 (màozi).

Can’t hear it?

Play uses your device’s Mandarin voice. Edge, Chrome and Safari have one; a browser with none plays each word in our recorded voice instead.

More free tools

Tells checked against Skritter’s guide to look-alike characters and learners’ top answers on Stack Exchange and Reddit; meanings from our own dictionary; sentences and English ours; pinyin from our own reader.