常 Stroke Order — How to Write 常
常 is written in 11 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 巾, 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.
常 Radical and Character Components
常 is a phono-semantic compound: 巾 (cloth) carries the meaning, while 尚 indicates the sound.
Radical: 巾 + 8 more strokes
常 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- cháng
Meanings of 常 in Chinese
1
cháng常
Long-lasting, fixed, or unchanging; constant.
这家商店常年营业，非常方便。
This store is open year-round, which is very convenient.
Often; frequently; regularly; constant (as in a regular customer).
他经常在周末去公园散步。
He often goes for a walk in the park on weekends.
Ordinary; common; normal; average.
他是一个很平常的人，过着平常的生活。
He is a very ordinary person, living an ordinary life.
Common Words and Phrases with 常
1
regularly prepared, stocked, or kept ready for use
家中常备急救箱，以应对突发状况。
We always keep a first-aid kit at home, ready for any unexpected situations.
2
Be always prepared and on the alert; be ever ready and vigilant.
在面对可能出现的风险时
When facing potential risks, we must maintain constant readiness and vigilance to ensure the smooth progress of the project.
3
A standing army; a permanent military force maintained by a country in peacetime.
在古代，一些强大的城邦会组建常备军来保护其领土和贸易路线。
In ancient times, some powerful city-states would form standing armies to protect their territories and trade routes.
4
Often; frequently; usually.
我常常去公园散步，呼吸新鲜空气。
I often go to the park for a walk to breathe fresh air.
5
Constantly; continuously, like an endlessly flowing river.
这条小溪常川流淌，滋养着两岸的植被。
This small stream flows continuously, nourishing the vegetation on both banks.
6
normal manner or attitude; fixed law or rule
她对待工作始终保持着认真的常度
She always maintains a serious and consistent attitude towards her work.
7
8
to make something routine or standard; to normalize or routinize
公司决定将员工培训常规化，以提高整体业务水平。
The company decided to regularize employee training to improve overall business proficiency.
9
Weapons that are not considered weapons of mass destruction (e.g., nuclear weapons) and typically use high explosives or incendiary agents.
现代军事演习经常展示各种先进的常规武器。
Modern military exercises often showcase various advanced conventional weapons.
10
normal course or practice
经过一段时间的调整，他的生活终于回到了常轨。
After a period of adjustment, his life finally returned to its normal course.
11
An ordinary session or regular meeting.
我们每周五上午都会召开常会，讨论项目进展和下周计划。
We hold a regular meeting every Friday morning to discuss project progress and next week's plans.
12
13
Usual practice; an established and effective method or precedent.
在学习中，多做练习题是提高成绩的常可。
In studies, doing more practice exercises is a common and effective approach to improve one's grades.
14
To exchange frequent visits.
他们两家常来常往，关系一直很好。
Their two families visit each other frequently, and their relationship has always been very good.
15
Regular or common etiquette in traditional China, such as bowing with hands folded, distinct from grand ceremonies like kowtowing.
在传统的家族聚会上，晚辈向长辈问安时，常以拱手作揖的常礼表达敬意。
At traditional family gatherings, juniors often express their respect to elders by performing the common courtesy of a clasped-hand bow.
16
Evergreen; always green, referring to plants that do not shed all their leaves at once and remain green throughout the year.
在寒冷的冬季，常绿植物为花园增添了一抹生机。
In the cold winter, evergreen plants add a touch of vitality to the garden.
More words with 常
- fēi非cháng常very; extremely; extraordinarily
- shí时cháng常often; frequently
- tōng通cháng常usually, generally, or normally
- yì异cháng常unusual or abnormal
- píng平cháng常Usual, ordinary, or common.
- wú无cháng常impermanence
- guàn惯cháng常Usual or habitual; common practice.
- rú如cháng常as usual; business as usual
- shī失cháng常abnormal, deranged
- sù素cháng常usually; ordinarily
- tài太cháng常Grand Master of Ceremonies, Minister of Ceremonies
- wǎng往cháng常usually, as usual
- xún寻cháng常Ordinary; usual; common.
- yōng庸cháng常Mediocre; commonplace; ordinary.
- yú逾cháng常out of the ordinary; unusual
- zhào照cháng常as usual; business as usual
- zhōng中cháng常Average; middling
- chāo超cháng常Extraordinary, Exceptional
- jiā家cháng常Homely, Everyday
- jīng经cháng常Often; frequently
Idioms with 常
- cháng常nián年lěi累yuè月over many years and months
- cháng常shèng胜jiāng将jūn军ever-victorious general
- ān安cháng常chǔ处shùn顺content with the normal and favorable
- biàn变huà化wú无cháng常constantly changing and unpredictable
- biàn变huàn幻wú无cháng常ever-changing and unpredictable
- bīng兵wú无cháng常shì势Adapt to changing circumstances
- chāo超hū乎xún寻cháng常beyond the ordinary
- chū出mò没wú无cháng常appear and disappear unpredictably
- dǎ打pò破cháng常guī规break with convention
- dǎo蹈cháng常xí袭gù故follow old routines and customs
- fān翻fù复wú无cháng常erratic and unpredictable
- fǎn反fù复wú无cháng常inconsistent and unpredictable
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Open the tool →Questions about 常
What does 常 mean in Chinese?
常 (cháng) means “Often” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 常?
常 is pronounced cháng in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 常 have?
常 has 11 strokes.
How do you write 常?
常 is written in 11 strokes, starting from the radical 巾. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 常?
The radical of 常 is 巾, and 常 is a phono-semantic compound.