Lesson 2 Rules of Strokes Order
I. The Rules of Strokes Order
Actually there are clear rules on which stroke should come first in a character and which next, and which part of a character should be finished before other parts. This system of rules is called the stroke order (笔顺). Always remember to abide by these rules and never try to tamper with the stroke order.
先横后竖：横竖相交时，先写横，再写竖和其他笔画。The horizontal stroke 一 precedes the vertical stroke 丨: When a horizontal stroke and a vertical stroke cross, write the horizontal stroke first, then the vertical stroke and order strokes, e.g. 十、丰、寸、夫
先撇后捺：撇和捺相交时，先写撇，后写捺。The left-falling stoke 丿 precedes the right-falling stroke 捺: When a left-falling stroke and a right-falling stroke converge, write the left-falling stroke before the right-falling stroke, e.g. 人、入、文、又
从上到下：先写上面的笔画，后写下面的。From top to bottom: Write the upper strokes first, then the lower ones, e.g. 土（十comes first）, 于（二comes first）,火（the two dot strokes 丶come first）, 门（the dot stroke丶comes first）.
从左到右：先写左边，后写右边。From left to right: Write the strokes on the left first, then the ones on the right, e.g. 八（beginning with the left-falling stroke 丿on the left）, 心（beginning with the dot stroke 丶on the left）, and 旧、同（beginning with the vertical stroke 丨on the left）.
先外后内：从上方（包括左上、右上、左上右）包围的结构，要先写外，后写内。From outside to inside: First write the upper part which encircles the other parts from either upper-left, upper-right or left-upper-right sides, then the strokes inside the encirclement, e.g. 月、厌、司、冒
先中间后两边：竖笔在中间比较突出且与两边比划不相交时，先写竖笔，再写两边笔画。From middle to both sides: For a character with a prominent vertical stroke (or vertical part) detached from the strokes at the sides, write the vertical stroke/part first and then the strokes at both sides, e.g. 小、水、业、办、赤. However, the radicals 忄and 火are exceptions – they end with the middle vertical stroke/part.
全包围结构要先外后内再关门：先写外面的包围结构和里面的字心，最后写下面封口一横。A full enclosure ends with the final horizontal stroke at the bottom: For a character with a full enclosure, first write the upper, left and right sides of the enclosure, then the strokes inside the enclosure, finally the horizontal stroke at the bottom of the enclosure, e.g. 日、因、面、国. This is like closing the door after finishing your business in your room.
These 7 are the basic and general rules of stroke order. In most cases a character begins with a stroke in the upper-left corner and ends with a stroke in the lower-right corner. Note the starting and ending strokes of the following hanzi. 举例：外、汉、笔、影（起讫笔画）
However, exceptions do exist due to the influences of established writing habits and traditional brush writing styles. For instance, the horizontal stroke 一in 女and the dot stroke 丶in the upper-right corner of 我are written as the last stroke, and 义is written in the sequence of a dot stroke 丶, a left-falling stroke 丿 and a right-falling stroke 捺.
