Hanzi Explorer
Components · Origins · Writing
Character explorer · 拆字

Hanzi breakdown

Explore how a character is built, identify its meaning and sound components, then practise writing it stroke by stroke.

Enter up to eight Chinese characters. Detailed breakdowns cover all 625 characters used in HSK 1–3 here.

问1 / 1
Character breakdownwèn / open at the bottom / Meaning + sound
问
wèn

Definition: to ask

Strokes

Components

Sound / outside门méngate, doorMeaning / inside口kǒumouth, opening
问wèn
Structureopen at the bottom
Radical门gate, door
TypeMeaning + sound

How it works

问 is a meaning-sound compound. 口 gives the meaning clue (mouth), while 门 gives a clue to its pronunciation.

Sound family

Common words 2

  • 请问 HSK 1qǐngwènexcuse me · may I ask
  • 问题 HSK 2wèntíquestion · problem