Learning resources · 5 min read
How to Make a Chinese Stroke Order GIF or Video
Animate one Chinese character or a short sentence, choose a practice grid or transparent background, and export a GIF, MP4 or WebM.
Published · Updated
To show how a Chinese character is written, enter the character, generate its stroke sequence, check the preview and download an animation. Use Single character for a large writing reference or Sentence for a short word or phrase. The export format depends on where you will use the result.
Choose that destination first: a flashcard needs a different file from a video you plan to layer over your own background.
Match the export format to where the animation will go
The background choice determines which download buttons appear. Practice grid and White offer GIF and MP4. Transparent offers transparent GIF and WebM, without the background or practice guides.
| Use | Background | Download |
|---|---|---|
| A flashcard or looping image | Practice grid or White | GIF |
| A slide or edited lesson video | Practice grid or White | MP4 |
| A transparent looping overlay | Transparent | Transparent GIF |
| A transparent video layer | Transparent | Transparent WebM |
Use one large character for detail, or a short sentence for context
Choose Single character when learners need to inspect each hook, turn and finishing stroke. Choose the output size and frame rate to suit your slide or video. Choose Sentence to animate two to 30 Chinese characters in reading order; select one to ten characters per row so the layout suits your slide or card.
Type or paste the exact simplified or traditional characters you want to teach, then select Generate. Punctuation, digits and Latin letters are ignored. In Sentence mode, the tool reports characters it skipped when stroke-order data is unavailable, so read that notice before exporting.
Replay the sequence and adjust the teaching view
Watch the generated preview once, then use Replay to check the strokes you want to teach. Set Background to Practice grid for writing guides, White for a clean canvas, or Transparent for an overlay. The Faint character outline can stay visible as a shape reference or be turned off.
Adjust Duration after generating. The slider controls the writing sequence, rather than the time for each individual stroke. A single character starts at five seconds; a multi-character sequence starts at three seconds per character. Set Hold before and Hold after to add still frames for editing; the displayed total includes both holds.
Set the Stroke color before download and inspect the full preview again. For a sentence, check the row layout and make sure every intended character appears in the generated result.
Export the GIF or video and keep the page open
Select the download button that matches your background. GIF works as a looping image; MP4 is a video with a practice grid or plain white background. Transparent GIF is available for image overlays. Transparent WebM is a VP9 video with an alpha channel for editors that can import that format.
Video export depends on browser encoding support. If an MP4 or WebM button is disabled, choose an available GIF format or try a browser with the required encoder. Exports run in a background worker: you may switch tabs while encoding, but keep this page open until the download completes.
Turn the animation into a writing prompt
Show the sequence once, replay it while the learner traces with a finger, then hide it and ask for the character from memory. For a sentence, pause after each character and let the learner predict the next stroke. This makes the file useful as a reference and a recall check.
The export has no pronunciation track. Add a spoken reading in your slide or video editor if your lesson also needs audio, or pair the animation with a separate listening activity.
Key takeaways
- Single character gives one large writing reference; Sentence arranges two to 30 Han characters.
- Practice grid or White offers GIF and MP4; Transparent offers GIF and WebM.
- Check skipped characters, row layout and duration in the preview before exporting.
- Keep the tool page open while background encoding finishes.
Put it into practice
Create your own stroke-order animation
Enter a character or sentence and turn its standard writing order into a downloadable GIF or MP4.
Make an animation →Frequently asked questions
Can I make a transparent Chinese stroke-order animation?
Yes. Choose Transparent under Background, then download a transparent GIF or WebM. Both omit the white background and practice guides.
Why is the MP4 download button unavailable?
MP4 needs browser support for H.264 encoding. When the button is disabled, download a GIF or use a browser that supports the required video encoder.
Will punctuation appear in a sentence animation?
No. The tool extracts Chinese characters for the stroke sequence. Check the generated text and any skipped-character notice before downloading.