How to Write 卄 (niàn) — Meaning “twenty”

Imagine two cross-shaped signs (十) standing side by side, like two tens holding hands to make twenty. The number '20' can be split into '2' and '0', and the two strokes of the first 十 and the single vertical of the second 十 visually hint at that shape. Just remember: two crosses equal double ten, or twenty.

Write 卄 with 3 strokes: first a horizontal line, then a vertical line crossing it to form the left 十, then draw the right 十 as another horizontal and vertical. A common mistake is making the two parts too far apart or uneven in size—keep them close together and balanced like twin characters.

卄 means twenty and is formed by two 十 combined, while 十 alone means ten. 千 (thousand) has a different shape: a horizontal line with a vertical stroke and a slanting stroke (丿) on top, not a double ten. Visually, 卄 looks like two small crosses side by side, whereas 千 is taller with an extra diagonal.

卄 is a rare character primarily found in formal or historical texts for writing dates, like 卄日 (the 20th day) or 卄年 (twenty years). It is not in the HSK vocabulary and is seldom used in daily life; modern Chinese uses 二十 instead. You may encounter it in classical literature or calligraphy for stylistic variety.

Common words containing 卄 include: 卄日 (niàn rì) — the 20th day of the month; 卄年 (niàn nián) — twenty years; 卄载 (niàn zài) — twenty years.