How to Write 案 (àn) — Meaning “case; file; desk”

Imagine a peaceful (安) wooden (木) desk piled with case files — the desk is for handling cases. The top part 安 looks like a roof over the wood, meaning your important papers are safe and organized under it.

Write the top part 安 first: dot, dot, horizontal hook, left-falling stroke, then a final dot inside. Then add the bottom 木 as a straight cross: horizontal, vertical, left-falling, right-falling. A common mistake is making the top 安 too wide or forgetting the middle horizontal hook stroke — keep the top compact.

案 has 安 (peace) on top and is used for words like "case" or "file." 杪 has 少 (few) on top and means "branch tip" or "end." 杭 has 亢 (high/valiant) on top and appears in place names like 杭州 (Hángzhōu). Visually, 案's top is a "roof" shape, while 杪 has a small "少" and 杭 has "亢."

案 appears in common words like 答案 (dá àn, answer), 方案 (fāng àn, plan), and 办案 (bàn àn, to handle a case). It is frequently used in legal, office, and academic settings. Culturally, 案 also refers to a traditional long wooden table used for meals or writing, reflecting its original meaning of a desk.

Common words containing 案 include: 答案 (dá àn) — Answer; solution; 方案 (fāng àn) — plan; scheme; proposal; 办案 (bàn àn) — to handle a case.