How to Write 临 (lín) — Meaning “to face; to arrive; just before; to copy”

Picture a person (the left vertical line 丨) standing in front of three stacked boxes just before opening them. This reminds you that 临 means 'just before' or 'to face' something.

Write the left vertical stroke first, then the right side from top to bottom. A common mistake is making the right side too wide—keep it narrow and balanced so the character does not look stretched.

In 临, the vertical line is on the left side, and the right part has three stacked horizontal sections. In 串, the vertical line goes through the middle of two squares, like items on a skewer, meaning 'a string of' or 'to string together'.

临 appears in common words like 临时 (temporary) and 临走 (just before leaving). You will also see it in 欢迎光临, a polite welcome phrase used in shops or restaurants to greet customers as they arrive.

Common words containing 临 include: 临时 (lín shí) — temporary; at the last minute; 欢迎光临 (huān yíng guāng lín) — Welcome (to a shop or restaurant); 临走 (lín zǒu) — just before leaving.