---
title: "Chinese Characters That Look Alike: How to Tell Them Apart (己 已 巳, 未 末, 拨 拔)"
description: "The Chinese characters learners mix up, 35 groups from 己 已 巳 and 未 末 to 拨 拔 and 设有 没有, each with the one stroke or part that tells them apart, a word for each in a sentence with pinyin and Play, and a quick quiz."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-look-alike-characters"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

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.

wǒ我zìjǐ自己lái来。

I’ll do it myself.

自己 zìjǐ · oneself

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.

zhè这gè个zhōumò周末nǐ你yǒukòng有空ma吗？

Are you free this weekend?

周末 zhōumò · weekend

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.

wǒ我xiǎng想chī吃tǔdòu土豆。

I’d like some potato.

土豆 tǔdòu · potato

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.

tā他shì是Zhōngguó中国rén人。

He’s Chinese.

中国人 Zhōngguórén · Chinese person

rùkǒu入口zài在nǎr哪儿？

Where’s the entrance?

入口 rùkǒu · entrance

wǒ我bāyuè八月qù去Shànghǎi上海。

I’m going to Shanghai in August.

八月 bāyuè · August

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.

qiānwàn千万bié别wàng忘le了！

Whatever you do, don’t forget!

千万 qiānwàn · by all means; ten million

fángjiān房间hěn很gānjìng干净。

The room is clean.

干净 gānjìng · clean

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.

wǒmen我们zhōngwǔ中午jiàn见。

See you at noon.

中午 zhōngwǔ · noon

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.

jīntiān今天hěn很lěng冷。

It’s cold today.

今天 jīntiān · today

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).

zhèlǐ这里de的tiándì田地hěn很dà大。

The fields here are big.

田地 tiándì · field; farmland

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

nǐ你de的zhǐjia指甲tài太cháng长le了。

Your nails are too long.

指甲 zhǐjia · fingernail

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.

zhè这bǎ把dāo刀hěn很kuài快。

This knife is sharp.

刀 dāo · knife

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).

wǒ我jiějie姐姐zài在shàng上dàxué大学。

My older sister is at university.

大学 dàxué · university

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.

nǐ你kàn看guo过《Xiǎo Wángzǐ小王子》ma吗？

Have you read The Little Prince?

王子 wángzǐ · prince

wǒ我xǐhuan喜欢chī吃yùmǐ玉米。

I like corn.

玉米 yùmǐ · corn

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.

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

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.

zhège这个shì是miǎnfèi免费de的。

This one is free.

免费 miǎnfèi · free (of charge)

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.

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)

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.

jīntiān今天yīfu衣服dǎzhé打折。

Clothes are on sale today.

打折 dǎzhé · to be on sale

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.

wǒ我méiyǒu没有qián钱。

I don’t have any money.

没有 méiyǒu · not have

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.

nǐ你yào要duō多hēshuǐ喝水。

You should drink more water.

喝水 hēshuǐ · to drink water

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).

jīntiān今天shì是qíngtiān晴天。

It’s a sunny day today.

晴天 qíngtiān · sunny day

tā她de的yǎnjing眼睛hěn很dà大。

She has big eyes.

眼睛 yǎnjing · eye

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

wǒ我jīntiān今天xīnqíng心情hěn很hǎo好。

I’m in a good mood today.

心情 xīnqíng · mood

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).

wǒ我yǒu有yī一gè个wèntí问题。

I have a question.

问题 wèntí · question; problem

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.

yīzhí一直wǎngqián往前zǒu走。

Go straight ahead.

往 wǎng · toward

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.

nǐ你xiūxi休息yīxià一下ba吧。

Take a break.

休息 xiūxi · to rest

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.

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.

lǎoshī老师，wǒ我yǒu有yī一gè个wèntí问题。

Teacher, I have a question.

老师 lǎoshī · teacher

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.

yínháng银行zài在yòubian右边。

The bank is on the right.

右边 yòubian · the right

wǒ我zuò坐zuǒbian左边。

I’ll sit on the left.

左边 zuǒbian · the left

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.

wǒ我shì是xuéshēng学生。

I’m a student.

学生 xuésheng · student

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.

zhè这jiàn件yīfu衣服hěn很hǎokàn好看。

This top looks great.

衣服 yīfu · clothes

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.

zhè这liàng辆qìchē汽车shì是xīn新de的。

This car is new.

汽车 qìchē · car

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.

zhù祝nǐ你shēngrì-kuàilè生日快乐！

Happy birthday!

生日 shēngrì · birthday

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.

wǒ我xǐhuan喜欢báisè白色。

I like white.

白色 báisè · white

zhè这běn本shū书yībǎi一百kuài块。

This book is a hundred kuai.

一百 yìbǎi · one hundred

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.

bǎobèi宝贝，bié别kū哭le了。

Don’t cry, sweetie.

宝贝 bǎobèi · treasure; darling

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).

wǒ我xǐhuan喜欢Zhōngguó中国lìshǐ历史。

I like Chinese history.

历史 lìshǐ · history

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.

wǒ我jīnnián今年èrshí二十suì岁。

I’m twenty this year.

今年 jīnnián · this year

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.

nǐ你zhǎo找shénme什么？

What are you looking for?

找 zhǎo · to look for

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.

wǒ我xiǎng想mǎi买yī一gè个shǒujī手机。

I want to buy a phone.

买 mǎi · to buy

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.

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

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](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/chinese-characters-that-look-like-pictures)

## 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

- [Chinese radicals](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-radicals)
- [Stroke order](https://mandarinthewild.com/stroke-order)
- [Chinese synonyms](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-synonyms)
- [Chinese homophones](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-homophones)

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.