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
IN CONTEXT
Example sentences
这个字是“材”。
Zhège zì shì “cái”.
This character is “材”.
我正在学习“材”字。
Wǒ zhèngzài xuéxí “cái” zì.
I am learning the character “材”.
请写一遍“材”。
Qǐng xiě yí biàn “cái”.
Please write “材” once.
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.