如 Stroke Order — How to Write 如
如 is written in 6 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 女, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
如 Radical and Character Components
如 is an ideographic compound. A wife 女 following her husband's words 口.
Radical: 女 + 3 more strokes
如 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- rú
Meanings of 如 in Chinese
1
rú如
To follow, conform to, or be in accordance with, often implying a desired state or method.
希望你的生日愿望都能如愿以偿。
May all your birthday wishes come true.
Like, similar to, as if; used to express similarity or comparison.
他们的友谊如同美酒，越久越醇厚
Their friendship is like fine wine, becoming richer and more mellow with time.
To be equal to, to match; to be as good as.
今天的表现不如昨天好。
Today's performance is not as good as yesterday's.
To go to; to proceed to. Often used in fixed phrases to mean 'as expected' or 'on schedule', for example, '如厕' (to go to the toilet) or '如期' (on schedule).
会议如期举行。
The meeting was held as scheduled.
if; supposing; in case
如果你同意，我们就开始吧。
If you agree, we'll start.
How; what; expressing difficulty or impossibility, often in a rhetorical question.
你如果自己都无法做到，又如何能要求别人呢？
If you can't even do it yourself, how can you expect others to?
Used as a conjunction, meaning 'and' or 'together with', often implying 'accompanying'.
孩子如父母，一同进入了会场。
The child, along with the parents, entered the venue together.
Approximately, about (used to indicate a range or alternative in estimation, similar to 'or' or 'around')
这个房间大概能容纳五十如六十人。
This room can probably accommodate about fifty or sixty people.
Used after an adjective to describe how an action or thing occurs, often indicating suddenness or an unexpected nature.
这个消息突如其来，让所有人都感到震惊。
The news came so suddenly, startling everyone.
Used to introduce examples; for instance, such as.
他喜欢各种水果，如苹果、香蕉等。
He likes various fruits, such as apples, bananas, etc.
Ought to; should. Used in formal or classical contexts to prescribe a proper course of action under certain conditions, similar to 'it should be that...' or 'it is proper to...'.
如遇不可为，则当远离。
If one encounters what cannot be done, then one should keep away.
A poetic or traditional name for the second month of the lunar calendar (如月).
如月天气渐暖，万物复苏。
In the second lunar month (Rúyuè), the weather gradually warms, and all things revive.
Common Words and Phrases with 如
1
To command or direct something with perfect ease and precision, just like moving one's own arm or fingers.
这位经验丰富的指挥家在排练时，对整个乐团的掌控如臂使指，音乐层次分明，和谐动人
During rehearsal, the experienced conductor wielded the entire orchestra with perfect command, as if directing his own fingers with his arm, creating music that was distinctly layered, harmonious, and deeply moving.
2
as usual; business as usual
尽管外面下着雨，咖啡馆里的一切都如常运行。
Despite the rain outside, everything in the cafe operated as usual.
3
To surge in like a tide; to come in like a flood.
比赛结束后，观众的掌声如潮涌至，久久不息。
After the competition, the audience's applause surged in like a tide, continuing for a long time.
4
as before; as it was originally
即使过了许多年，他们之间的感情依然如初。
Even after many years, the affection between them remains as it was.
5
Exactly alike; strikingly similar.
这对姐妹不仅长相神似，连爱好和兴趣都如出一辙。
Not only do these sisters look very similar, but their hobbies and interests are also exactly alike.
6
So; such; like this/that; in this way or to this extent.
她如此热爱生活，每天都充满活力。
She loves life so much that she is full of vitality every day.
7
that's all; nothing more than that
他只是想帮个忙，如此而已，并没有其他目的。
He just wanted to help, that's all, with no other intentions.
8
such and such
他只是简单地描述了事情的经过，说了句如此这般，大家就明白了他的意思。
He just briefly described what happened, saying 'such and such,' and everyone understood what he meant.
9
10
A younger sworn brother.
他们曾一同出生入死，情谊深厚，年长的把年幼的当作如弟，一直悉心照料。
They once faced life-threatening situations together, forging a profound friendship; the elder treated the younger as a sworn younger brother, always looking after him with meticulous care.
11
To be utterly confused and disoriented, as if lost in a thick fog; utterly mystified.
新来的同事向我解释公司的复杂流程，我听得如堕五里雾中，一时半会儿消化不了这么多信息。
The new colleague explained the company's complex procedures to me, and I listened utterly confused, as if lost in a thick fog, unable to digest so much information all at once.
12
To be completely confused and disoriented, like being lost in a dense fog at sea, unable to grasp the main point or find one's way.
面对这堆积如山的数据和复杂的图表，他感觉自己如堕烟海，完全不知从何下手。
Facing this mountain of data and complex charts, he felt utterly lost as if falling into a sea of mist, completely unsure where to begin.
13
Properly; truly; according to the correct method or rules.
他如法掌握了这门技艺的精髓。
He genuinely mastered the essence of this skill.
14
To follow a set pattern; to follow suit; to do likewise
他们看到了邻居通过合理规划把小花园打理得井井有条，也决定如法炮制，把自家的院子好好规整一番。
They saw how their neighbor meticulously organized their small garden through sensible planning, and decided to follow suit, tidying up their own yard.
15
To pay no attention to something; to disregard something as if it were wind passing by, leaving no impression.
老师的忠告他总是如风过耳，从未真正听进去。
He always let the teacher's advice go in one ear and out the other, never truly listening to it.
16
as before; like old friends
时隔多年，她重游故地，发现一切景物依然如故，勾起了许多美好的回忆
After many years, she revisited her old haunts and found that all the scenery remained as before, stirring up many fond memories.
More words with 如
- lì例rú如for example; for instance
- wǎn宛rú如as if; just like; as though
- yóu犹rú如just as; like; as if
- pì譬rú如for example; such as
- qià恰rú如just like; just as
- quē缺rú如to be lacking or absent
- quē阙rú如missing, absent
- yù裕rú如Ample, Abundant
- zhū诸rú如such as; for example
- lìn蔺xiàng相rú如Lin Xiangru
- ǎi蔼rú如gentle and amiable in manner
- hé何rú如How about it?, What do you think?
- jí即rú如as; just like
- rú如guǒ果if
- rú如jīn今nowadays, at present
- rú如tóng同like, as if
- rú如yǒu有if any, if there is
- rú如huā花Flower-like, Bloomy
- rú如huǒ火fiery, like fire
- rú如qī期on schedule, as scheduled
Idioms with 如
- rú如chī痴rú如dāi呆utterly absorbed or infatuated
- rú如chī痴rú如zuì醉utterly fascinated and mesmerized
- rú如chū出yī一kǒu口speak with one voice
- rú如chuán椽zhī之bǐ笔powerful, masterful writing
- rú如hǔ虎tiān添yì翼make the strong stronger
- rú如huā花sì似jǐn锦magnificent scenery or brilliant future
- rú如huā花sì似yù玉exquisitely beautiful and graceful
- rú如huǒ火liáo燎yuán原spread rapidly like a prairie fire
- rú如huǒ火rú如tú荼in full swing
- rú如huò获shí石tián田to gain something useless or burdensome
- rú如huò获zhì至bǎo宝to treasure immensely
- rú如jī饥sì似kě渴crave with extreme eagerness
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Open the tool →Questions about 如
What does 如 mean in Chinese?
如 (rú) means “To follow” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 如?
如 is pronounced rú in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 如 have?
如 has 6 strokes.
How do you write 如?
如 is written in 6 strokes, starting from the radical 女. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 如?
The radical of 如 is 女, and 如 is an ideographic compound.