What does 习 mean in Chinese?

习 is a Chinese character with the radical 乙.

How do you write 习?

习 is written with 3 strokes, starting from the 乙 (second) radical and following standard Chinese stroke order (top to bottom, left to right). See the interactive stroke-order tool for the full animation.

What is the radical of 习?

The radical of 习 is 乙 (second, Kangxi radical #5). Other common HSK characters using the same radical include 了, 书, 也, 买.

How many strokes does 习 have?

The Chinese character 习 has 3 strokes.

What HSK level is 习?

On the new HSK exam syllabus, 习 is a character to recognise at HSK 1 and to write by hand at HSK 2 (the handwriting list HSK 1 and 2 share).

习: Chinese Character Details

习

HSK 1 character 3 strokes Radical: 乙 (second)

Quick Answer

习 is a Chinese character with 3 strokes, radical 乙 (second), HSK 1 on the new exam.

Full dictionary entry for 习 →Animated stroke-order for 习 →

Etymology

Oracle-bone origin

The traditional form 習 shows 羽 (feathers/wings) above 白 (originally 日, sun, later corrupted to 白). Oracle bone and bronze forms depict a young bird repeatedly flapping its wings in the sunlight, learning to fly. The simplified 习 retains only the single wing element.

Form evolution

Oracle bone forms show two wing shapes over a sun disc. Bronze and seal forms preserved this 羽 + 日 structure, with the sun element gradually distorting into 白 in clerical script. The modern traditional 習 standardised this shape, and the PRC simplification 习 reduced the double 羽 to a single stylised wing with two strokes.

How the meaning evolved

The original meaning was the repeated practice flight of a fledgling bird, which extended naturally to any kind of repeated practice or habituation. From Warring States texts onward it carried the senses of 'to practise', 'to study by repetition', and 'habit'. Modern Mandarin preserves all three in words like 学习 (study), 练习 (practise), and 习惯 (habit).

Cultural note

The Analects opens with 学而时习之，不亦说乎; 'to learn and regularly practise it, is that not a pleasure?' The 习 here specifically carries the fledgling-bird nuance of rehearsing what has been learned, which is often lost in English translations that render it simply as 'review'.

Mnemonic

Wings flapping in practice — to practice

Basic info

Stroke count	3 strokes
Radical	乙 (#5: second)
New HSK exam	Recognise at HSK 1, write by hand at HSK 1-2
Frequency	#273 most common

Example sentences

我每天学习汉语。
Wǒ měi tiān xuéxí hànyǔ.
I study Chinese every day.
From 学习 (HSK 1)
我在复习功课。
Wǒ zài fùxí gōngkè.
I'm reviewing my lessons.
From 复习 (HSK 3)
早睡早起是好习惯。
Zǎo shuì zǎo qǐ shì hǎo xíguàn.
Going to bed early and rising early is a good habit.
From 习惯 (HSK 3)

Words containing 习

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
学习	xuéxí	to study	HSK 1
习惯	xíguàn	Habit	HSK 3
复习	fùxí	to review	HSK 3
练习	liànxí	Practice	HSK 3
预习	yùxí	Preview	HSK 4
实习	shíxí	Internship	HSK 5
补习	bǔxí	to take extra lessons	HSK 6