COMPONENTS & ETYMOLOGY
How 琴 is built
Traditional etymology note: Two guitar strings 玨 suggest the meaning; 今 provides the pronunciation
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How to Write 琴 (qín) — Chinese Character Stroke Order, Meaning & Practice Sheet
guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither)
qínTone 2 (Rising)Pitch goes up like asking ‘What?’
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STROKE BY STROKE
Static stroke diagrams
Follow all 12 strokes in the correct order.
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StrokeSheetCharacter Writing Worksheet
qín
琴
guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither)
Common words
gāng qín
钢琴
piano
xiǎo tí qín
小提琴
fiddle; violin
duì niú tán qín
对牛弹琴
lit. to play the lute to a cow (idiom); fig. offering a treat to an unappreciative audience; to cast pearls before swine; caviar to the general
qín qí shū huà
琴棋书画
the four arts (zither, Go, calligraphy, painting); the accomplishments of a well-educated person
qín
琴
guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither); musical instrument in general
Follow the stroke order, then write it on your own.
琴
琴
琴
琴
琴
琴
琴
琴
LEARNING TIP
Remember 琴
Say “qín” aloud as you replay the animation. Then hide the model and write the 12 strokes from memory. Short, repeated practice builds a stronger visual and motor connection.
Practice on CanvasWORDS WITH 琴
Common words and phrases
gāng qín
piano
xiǎo tí qín
fiddle; violin
duì niú tán qín
lit. to play the lute to a cow (idiom); fig. offering a treat to an unappreciative audience; to cast pearls before swine; caviar to the general
qín qí shū huà
the four arts (zither, Go, calligraphy, painting); the accomplishments of a well-educated person
qín
guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither); musical instrument in general
Frequently asked questions
How many strokes are in 琴?
琴 is written with 12 strokes.
What does 琴 (qín) mean?
琴 (qín) means guqin 古琴[gu3 qin2] (a type of zither).
What is the radical of 琴?
The radical of 琴 is 王, associated with Not yet classified.