写 xiě — to write
老师教我们怎么写这个字。Lǎo shī jiāo wǒ men zěn me xiě zhè ge zì.The teacher teaches us how to write this character.
Common words: 听写 (tīng xiě)、写作 (xiě zuò)、描写 (miáo xiě)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to write"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to write", including 写 (xiě), 修 (xiū), 笔 (bǐ). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to write" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 写 (xiě), 修 (xiū), 笔 (bǐ) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xiě, xiū, bǐ — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 写 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 写 xiěto writeUseful words: 听写, 写作
- 修 xiūto decorate; to embellish; to repair; to build; to study; to writeUseful words: 修改, 装修
- 笔 bǐpen; pencil; writing brush; to write or compose; the strokes of Chinese charactersUseful words: 笔记本, 笔记
Common words for these 3 "to write" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 写 (xiě) — so "to write" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
听写tīng xiě(of a pupil) to write down (in a dictation exercise); dictation; (music) to transcribe by ear写作xiě zuòto write; to compose; writing; written works描写miáo xiěto describe; to depict; to portray; depiction修改xiū gǎito amend; to alter; to modify装修zhuāng xiūto decorate; interior decoration; to fit up; to renovate维修wéi xiūmaintenance (of equipment); to protect and maintain笔记本bǐ jì běnnotebook (stationery) (; (computing) laptop; notebook笔记bǐ jìto take down (in writing); notes; a type of literature consisting mainly of short sketches铅笔qiān bǐ(lead) pencil
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "to write".
修 xiū — to decorate; to embellish; to repair; to build; to study; to write
工人正在修一条新路。Gōng rén zhèng zài xiū yì tiáo xīn lù.The workers are repairing a road.
Common words: 修改 (xiū gǎi)、装修 (zhuāng xiū)、维修 (wéi xiū)
笔 bǐ — pen; pencil; writing brush; to write or compose; the strokes of Chinese characters
请用钢笔写下你的名字。Qǐng yòng gāng bǐ xiě xià nǐ de míng zi.Please write your name with a pen.
Common words: 笔记本 (bǐ jì běn)、笔记 (bǐ jì)、铅笔 (qiān bǐ)
All 3 characters
Open 写、修、笔 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.