How to Write 北 (běi) — Meaning “North”

Imagine two friends（匕）standing back to back, facing opposite sides. One is looking south, the other north. This visual of 'backs to each other' helps you recall that 北 means 'north'—the direction someone is facing when their back is to the south.

Write the left side first: a short stroke, then a vertical stroke with a hook, then a short horizontal stroke. On the right side, draw a short stroke followed by a larger vertical stroke that bends left. Common mistake: making the left and right halves too symmetrical—the right side should be slightly taller.

Both characters look similar on the left side, but 北 has a small horizontal stroke on the left while 化 has a 'person' radical (亻). More importantly, 北 means 'north' and 化 means 'change' or 'transform'. The right side of 化 is a sitting person (匕), whereas 北 uses two mirrored匕 elements.

北 appears in common place names like 北京 (Beijing, 'north capital') and directions like 北边 ('north side' or 'to the north'). It's also part of 东北 (northeast), one of China's major regions. In Chinese culture, the north is traditionally associated with winter and the element of water.

Common words containing 北 include: 北京 (běi jīng) — Beijing; 北边 (běi biān) — North / To the north; 东北 (dōng běi) — Northeast.