写
to write
HSK level
- Pinyin
- xiě
- Part of speech
- verb
- Level
- HSK 1
- Strokes
- 5
- Register
- neutral
- In episodes
- 1
Stroke order for 写
写 is written with 5 strokes. The animation replays automatically.
What does 写 mean?
写 (xiě) means 'to write' — the action of forming letters, characters, or text by hand or by typing.
It covers writing of any kind: a character (写字), a letter (写信), an essay (写文章), a book (写书), even code (写代码) in modern usage. Grammatically straightforward: 写 + object works directly, with no preposition. 'I write a letter' is 我写信, not 我写一封信给... unless you specify the recipient.
Two important compounds: 写字 (xiě zì, 'to write characters') is what every Mandarin learner does in practice, and 写作 (xiězuò) is 'writing' as a literary activity or skill. Note: 写 specifically means 'write' in the sense of producing text — it does NOT mean 'spell' (that's 拼 pīn) and does NOT mean 'sign' (that's 签 qiān). For 'writing' as in 'good handwriting', use 写得好.
Memory hook: The top of 写 (冖) looks like a desk lid — picture lifting a desk lid to find paper underneath to write on.
Hear 写 in real episodes
写 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed. Each sentence plays at the easiest difficulty it exists in — switch it to hear the same moment at your level, with full pinyin and English throughout.
霍莉打电话，写了很多字给他们看。
Holly called and wrote a lot of words for them to see.
A Senator Pays a Bakery Bill After Six Years and a Viral Post
Example sentences
我会写汉字。
Wǒ huì xiě Hànzì.
I can write Chinese characters.
neutral
请写你的名字。
Qǐng xiě nǐ de míngzi.
Please write your name.
polite
他在写信。
Tā zài xiě xìn.
He's writing a letter.
neutral
你写得很好。
Nǐ xiě de hěn hǎo.
You write very well.
spoken
Common phrases with 写
Synonyms
写作 is 'writing' as a creative/literary act or skill — what an author does. 写 is the everyday verb 'to write' for any context. 写文章 = write an article; 写作能力 = writing ability.
记 means 'to record / take notes / remember'. Use 记 for jotting things down to remember (记笔记 'take notes'). Use 写 for producing text generally.
Don't confuse 写 with
Frequently asked questions
Related words from the same episodes
Acquire it by listening
Meet 写 again — in real Chinese, at your level.
You just saw 写 in 1 episode. Fluentide keeps feeding you news episodes at your level, so this word — and thousands like it — resurface in real sentences until they stick. Full pinyin and translation every time. Free to start.