COMPONENTS & ETYMOLOGY
How 材 is built
Traditional etymology note: 木 (wood) suggests the meaning, while 才 suggests the pronunciation.
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How to Write 材 (cái) — Chinese Character Stroke Order, Meaning & Practice Sheet
material
cáiTone 2 (Rising)Pitch goes up like asking ‘What?’
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STROKE BY STROKE
Static stroke diagrams
Follow all 7 strokes in the correct order.
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StrokeSheetCharacter Writing Worksheet
cái
材
material
Common words
cái liào
材料
(raw) material; data; (fig.) person who has the potential to do the job
jiào cái
教材
teaching material
shēn cái
身材
stature; build (height and weight); figure
cái zhì
材质
texture of timber; quality of material; material (that sth is made of)
mù cái
木材
wood
tí cái
题材
subject matter
Follow the stroke order, then write it on your own.
材
材
材
材
材
材
材
材
LEARNING TIP
Remember 材
Say “cái” aloud as you replay the animation. Then hide the model and write the 7 strokes from memory. Short, repeated practice builds a stronger visual and motor connection.
Practice on CanvasWORDS WITH 材
Common words and phrases
cái liào
(raw) material; data; (fig.) person who has the potential to do the job
jiào cái
teaching material
shēn cái
stature; build (height and weight); figure
cái zhì
texture of timber; quality of material; material (that sth is made of)
mù cái
wood
tí cái
subject matter
Frequently asked questions
How many strokes are in 材?
材 is written with 7 strokes.
What does 材 (cái) mean?
材 (cái) means material.
What is the radical of 材?
The radical of 材 is 木, associated with Not yet classified.