How to write 要 (yào) — stroke order
要 (yào) means “to want; to need.” It is written with 9 strokes, and its radical is 襾 (yà, “cover”). The strokes go 横, 竖, 横折, 竖, 竖, 横, 撇点, 撇, 横. Use it right away in a real line: 我要这个 (Wǒ yào zhège), “I want this one.”
- Strokes
- 9
- Radical
- 襾 (yà, “cover”) · Kangxi 146
- Meaning
- to want; to need
- Traditional
- 要 (same)
Watch it, then trace it
Tap Watch strokes for the order. Tap Trace it and draw each stroke with your finger or mouse.
yào
Stroke order, step by step
- 1 横
- 2 竖
- 3 横折
- 4 竖
- 5 竖
- 6 横
- 7 撇点
- 8 撇
- 9 横
- Stroke 1 of 9 · 横 héng (horizontal): starts at the top left, goes to the right.
- Stroke 2 of 9 · 竖 shù (vertical): starts at the top left, goes down to the right.
- Stroke 3 of 9 · 横折 héngzhé (horizontal then down): starts at the top left, goes to the right, then down.
- Stroke 4 of 9 · 竖 shù (vertical): starts at the top, goes down.
- Stroke 5 of 9 · 竖 shù (vertical): starts at the top, goes down.
- Stroke 6 of 9 · 横 héng (horizontal): starts at the middle left, goes to the right.
- Stroke 7 of 9 · 撇点 piědiǎn (left-falling then dot): starts at the centre, goes down, then down to the right.
- Stroke 8 of 9 · 撇 piě (left-falling): starts at the centre, goes down, then to the left.
- Stroke 9 of 9 · 横 héng (horizontal): starts at the middle left, goes to the right.
Writing tip
Close the top box first: its two short inside strokes come before the bottom line, then write 女 underneath.
Lines on Hanyuwu with 要
Questions
How many strokes does 要 have?
要 has 9 strokes. Close the top box first: its two short inside strokes come before the bottom line, then write 女 underneath.
What is the radical of 要?
The radical of 要 is 襾 (yà, “cover”), Kangxi radical 146. Dictionaries do not all file it under the same radical; this is the Kangxi one.
How do you pronounce 要?
Yào, fourth tone. In 我要这个 it keeps that tone.
Is 要 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 要 is written the same way in traditional Chinese.
Where will I use 要 in China?
In lines like 我要这个 (I want this one), 不要辣 (No spice, please), 不要香菜 (No cilantro, please).
Printable practice sheet for 要
Next characters: 我 · 这 · 个 · 不 · 辣 · 香 · 菜 · 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