How to Write 川 (chuān) — Meaning “River / Plain”

Imagine three vertical lines as three rivers flowing side by side across a flat plain. The number three (three strokes) can remind you that 川 means both 'river' and 'plain' — a place where rivers run through open land.

Write three vertical strokes from top to bottom: the first two are short and even, and the third is longer, almost the same length as the first two combined. A common mistake is making the first two strokes too long or unevenly spaced, which breaks the balanced river-like look.

Common words include 四川 (Sìchuān, the province famous for spicy food and pandas), 山川 (shānchuān, meaning 'mountains and rivers' for scenic landscapes), and 冰川 (bīngchuān, meaning 'glacier' — a river of ice). These words appear in travel, geography, and food contexts.

川 is used mostly in place names (like Sichuan) and geographic terms (e.g., 川菜 'Sichuan cuisine'). Culturally, it evokes the image of China’s fertile plains and great rivers, and the name Sichuan literally means 'four rivers,' reflecting its historical geography.

Common words containing 川 include: 四川 (sì chuān) — Sichuan (a province in China).; 山川 (shān chuān) — Mountains and rivers; 冰川 (bīng chuān) — Glacier.