How to write 菜 (cài) — stroke order
菜 (cài) means “a dish; vegetables.” It is written with 11 strokes, and its radical is 艹 (cǎo, “grass”). The strokes go 横, 竖, 竖, 撇, 点, 点, 撇, 横, 竖, 撇, 捺. Use it right away in a real line: 不要香菜 (Bú yào xiāngcài), “No cilantro, please.”
- Strokes
- 11
- Radical
- 艹 (cǎo, “grass”) · Kangxi 140
- Meaning
- a dish; vegetables
- Traditional
- 菜 (same)
Watch it, then trace it
Tap Watch strokes for the order. Tap Trace it and draw each stroke with your finger or mouse.
cài
Stroke order, step by step
- 1 横
- 2 竖
- 3 竖
- 4 撇
- 5 点
- 6 点
- 7 撇
- 8 横
- 9 竖
- 10 撇
- 11 捺
- Stroke 1 of 11 · 横 héng (horizontal): starts at the top left, goes to the right.
- Stroke 2 of 11 · 竖 shù (vertical): starts at the top left, goes down to the right.
- Stroke 3 of 11 · 竖 shù (vertical): starts at the top, goes down.
- Stroke 4 of 11 · 撇 piě (left-falling): starts at the top, goes to the left.
- Stroke 5 of 11 · 点 diǎn (dot): a short stroke at the middle left, down to the right.
- Stroke 6 of 11 · 点 diǎn (dot): a short stroke at the centre, down to the right.
- Stroke 7 of 11 · 撇 piě (left-falling): starts at the top right, goes down to the left.
- Stroke 8 of 11 · 横 héng (horizontal): starts at the middle left, goes to the right.
- Stroke 9 of 11 · 竖 shù (vertical): starts at the centre, goes down.
- Stroke 10 of 11 · 撇 piě (left-falling): starts at the centre, goes down to the left.
- Stroke 11 of 11 · 捺 nà (right-falling): starts at the centre, goes down to the right.
Writing tip
The grass top 艹 first, then the four strokes of 爫, then 木 at the bottom.
Lines on Hanyuwu with 菜
- 不要香菜 Bú yào xiāngcài — No cilantro, please.Here 菜 is said cài.
Questions
How many strokes does 菜 have?
菜 has 11 strokes. The grass top 艹 first, then the four strokes of 爫, then 木 at the bottom.
What is the radical of 菜?
The radical of 菜 is 艹 (cǎo, “grass”), Kangxi radical 140.
How do you pronounce 菜?
Cài, fourth tone. In 不要香菜 it keeps that tone.
Is 菜 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 菜 is written the same way in traditional Chinese.
Printable practice sheet for 菜
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