How to write 了 (le) — stroke order
了 (le) means “the change or done particle.” It is written with 2 strokes, and its radical is 亅 (jué, “hook”). The strokes go 横撇, 竖钩. Use it right away in a real line: 不要了 (Bú yào le), “No more, thanks.”
- Strokes
- 2
- Radical
- 亅 (jué, “hook”) · Kangxi 6
- Meaning
- the change or done particle
- Traditional
- 了
Watch it, then trace it
Tap Watch strokes for the order. Tap Trace it and draw each stroke with your finger or mouse.
le
Stroke order, step by step
- 1 横撇
- 2 竖钩
- Stroke 1 of 2 · 横撇 héngpiě (horizontal then left-falling): starts at the top left, goes to the right, then down to the left.
- Stroke 2 of 2 · 竖钩 shùgōu (vertical with hook): starts at the top, goes down, then up to the left.
Writing tip
Two strokes: a short turn and sweep, then a long vertical with a hook to the left.
Lines on Hanyuwu with 了
- 不要了 Bú yào le — No more, thanks.Here 了 is said le.
Questions
How many strokes does 了 have?
了 has 2 strokes. Two strokes: a short turn and sweep, then a long vertical with a hook to the left.
What is the radical of 了?
The radical of 了 is 亅 (jué, “hook”), Kangxi radical 6. Dictionaries do not all file it under the same radical; this is the Kangxi one.
How do you pronounce 了?
Le, neutral (light) tone. In 不要了 it keeps that tone.
Is 了 different in traditional Chinese?
In 不要了 (le), 了 is written the same in traditional Chinese. Unihan lists 瞭 only for the liǎo sense.
Printable practice sheet for 了
Stroke animation: Hanzi Writer (MIT). Stroke shapes: Make Me a Hanzi via hanzi-writer-data, derived from Arphic PL fonts, Arphic Public License. Stroke counts: Unihan 17.0.0. Credits and licences