How to Write 填 (tián) — Meaning “to fill in”

Imagine you need to fill a hole with dirt (土), and you have to be really (真) thorough so the ground becomes true and level. The phrase 'fill it with earth to make it true' helps link the two parts. Picture yourself filling a form with true information to reinforce the meaning.

Write the left radical 土 first (three strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal), then the right part 真 (ten strokes). A common mistake is to forget the short horizontal stroke inside the top of 真 or to write the bottom two strokes (丿 and 丶) as one continuous line. Keep the right side compact and balanced with the left.

The right sides are different: 填 has 真 (true), 埝 has 念 (think), and 域 has 或 (or). 填 means 'to fill', while 埝 refers to a low earth wall or mound, and 域 means 'region' or 'area'. Visually, remember that 填's right side has a '十' shape at the top, whereas 埝 has a '今' shape at the top, and 域 has a '戈' component.

填 is very common in everyday life for filling out forms (填写) or completing blanks in exercises (填空). For example, you might be asked to 填写 your name on a registration form. In Chinese education, 填空 exercises are a standard way to test vocabulary and grammar, often seen in language exams like HSK.

Common words containing 填 include: 填写 (tián xiě) — to fill out (a form); 填空 (tián kòng) — to fill in the blanks; 填满 (tián mǎn) — to fill up.