How to Write 写 (xiě) — Meaning “To write”

Imagine you are writing a letter under a roof (冖) to give (与) to someone. The roof protects your paper, and you are giving your words through writing. This visual of "under a roof, giving words" helps you recall the character 写.

Write the dot first, then the horizontal hook for the top 冖, followed by the three strokes of 与: horizontal, vertical, horizontal. A common mistake is making the last horizontal line too short or forgetting it entirely—it must extend to the right of the vertical line. Keep the top part narrow and the bottom part balanced.

写 has bottom part 与, which looks like three flat strokes (一, 丨, 一). In contrast, 冗 has bottom 几, which is curved like a table, and means "redundant." 冘 has bottom 儿, which looks like two legs, and is a rare character. So look at the bottom strokes: straight and flat for 写, curved for 冗, and person-shaped for 冘.

写 is a basic verb meaning "to write" and is used in common phrases like 写字 (write characters), 写作 (writing as an activity), and 写信 (write a letter). In Chinese culture, writing is highly valued, especially calligraphy (书法), which is seen as an art form. Learning 写 is essential because it appears in everyday tasks like taking notes or sending messages.

Common words containing 写 include: 写字 (xiě zì) — To write characters; 写作 (xiě zuò) — Writing / to write; 写信 (xiě xìn) — To write a letter.