How to Write 捺 (nà) — Meaning “to press down; downward stroke in calligraphy”

Imagine your hand (扌) pressing down firmly to make a fingerprint (like 捺印). The right part 奈 looks like a cross shape, helping you recall the downward stroke in calligraphy.

The last stroke is the right-falling stroke (捺), which must be written with a thick, heavy end—do not make it too thin. The overall width should be balanced, with the left radical 扌 narrower and the right side 奈 slightly wider.

捺 has a hand radical and means 'press down', while 拜 (worship) combines hands and a bowing motion, and 括 (include) uses a hand with 舌 (tongue) for the meaning 'to enclose'. Visually, 捺 has 奈 on the right, not 舌 or multiple hands.

捺 appears in words like 按捺 (to restrain feelings) and 捺印 (to press a fingerprint). In calligraphy, 捺 refers to a specific diagonal stroke, and it is one of the eight basic strokes (永字八法) taught to beginners.

Common words containing 捺 include: 按捺 (àn nà) — to restrain; to control; 撇捺 (piē nà) — left-falling and right-falling strokes; 捺印 (nà yìn) — to press a fingerprint or seal.