典 Stroke Order — How to Write 典
典 is written in 8 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 八, 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.
典 Radical and Character Components
典 is an ideographic compound. Two hands 八 holding a book 冊.
Radical: 八 + 6 more strokes
典 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- diǎn
Meanings of 典 in Chinese
1
diǎn典
Refers to books or works that serve as a standard or classic reference, such as dictionaries, lexicons, or classic texts.
学习新词时，我喜欢查字典来理解它们的准确含义。
When learning new words, I like to look them up in a dictionary to understand their precise meaning.
Standard, rule, ceremony, classic, or a typical/elegant example; often referring to a model or a literary allusion.
这座建筑设计典雅，是现代与古典结合的典范
The design of this building is elegant, a model of modern and classical integration.
Refers to a ceremony or grand occasion.
这次毕业典礼非常盛大。
This graduation ceremony was very grand.
To preside over; to manage; to be in charge of (as in an examination or a prison).
他典管着这份重要的档案。
He is in charge of this important archive.
To mortgage, pawn, or pledge an item, often with the possibility of redemption after a certain period.
他将祖传的玉佩典押给当铺，希望能筹集到急需的资金。
He pawned his family heirloom jade pendant to the pawnshop, hoping to raise urgently needed funds.
Common Words and Phrases with 典
1
To pawn or mortgage property in exchange for a loan.
他因为急需用钱，只好把手表拿去典当了。
Because he urgently needed money, he had no choice but to pawn his watch.
2
A model, example, or paragon; something considered ideal and worthy of imitation.
他勤奋好学的精神是所有学生的典范，值得大家学习
His diligent and studious spirit is an exemplary model for all students, worthy of everyone's emulation.
3
ancient books and classics; an abbreviation for 'San Fen Wu Dian' (Three Tombs and Five Canons), generally referring to various books.
这位学者毕生致力于研读典坟，以期发掘先人留下的智慧遗产。
This scholar dedicated his life to studying ancient classics, hoping to unearth the wisdom heritage left by their ancestors.
4
A classical allusion or literary quotation, referring to stories, historical events, or well-known phrases from ancient texts.
这部小说语言优美，其中穿插了许多古典诗词的典故，读起来韵味十足
The language of this novel is beautiful, interweaving many allusions from classical poetry, making it richly flavored to read.
5
ancient books and records; important historical documents or literary works.
图书馆里珍藏着许多珍贵的历史典籍，记录了古人的智慧和文化。
The library houses many precious historical classics, documenting the wisdom and culture of ancient people.
6
To pawn or mortgage property to borrow money.
为了支付医疗费用，她不得不典借了一些珍贵的首饰。
To cover medical expenses, she had to pawn some valuable jewelry.
7
A formal ceremony or celebration, often grand in scale, to mark a special event.
学校的毕业典礼在礼堂隆重举行。
The school's graduation ceremony was grandly held in the auditorium.
8
cultured and beautiful; elegant and magnificent
这座古老的建筑，雕梁画栋，显得格外典丽。
This ancient building, with its carved beams and painted pillars, appears exceptionally elegant and magnificent.
9
To pawn or mortgage property (such as houses or land) for a limited period, with the option to redeem it, otherwise it is considered sold.
因为家中急需用钱，他只好将祖传的田地典卖给富商。
Due to an urgent need for money at home, he had no choice but to pledge and sell the ancestral land to the wealthy merchant.
10
pawnshop
他因为手头拮据，不得不把家传的首饰送到了典铺。
Due to financial hardship, he had no choice but to take the family heirloom jewelry to the pawnshop.
11
Money received when selling oneself or a family member into servitude or slavery.
在那个贫困的年代，许多人为了生计，不得不靠典身钱度日。
In that era of poverty, many people had no choice but to live on the money from selling themselves into servitude.
12
Institutions, decrees, and regulations.
这部典宪详细阐述了学社的运行机制与成员权利。
This body of canons elaborates in detail the operational mechanisms and member rights of the academic society.
13
punishment, especially capital punishment; to administer punishment.
这个罪犯最终受到了典刑，为自己行为付出了代价。
The criminal ultimately received the prescribed punishment, paying the price for their actions.
14
typical; a representative example or model
这幅画是那位艺术家早期风格的典型作品。
This painting is a typical example of that artist's early style.
15
The process, especially in art and literature, of refining real-life elements to create typical characters or representations.
这位小说家善于将日常琐事典型化，使其笔下的人物形象鲜明而富有深意
This novelist excels at typifying everyday occurrences, making the characters in his works vivid and profound.
More words with 典
- qìng庆diǎn典a grand celebration or ceremony
- shèng盛diǎn典grand ceremony or grand celebration
- bǎo宝diǎn典Guidebook, Manual
- cāo操diǎn典Drill manual, Field manual
- cí辞diǎn典dictionary
- ēn恩diǎn典grace
- fǎ法diǎn典Code, Codex
- cí词diǎn典dictionary
- gú古diǎn典classical, classic
- jīng经diǎn典classic
- zì字diǎn典dictionary
- gù故diǎn典classical allusion, historical precedent
- guó国diǎn典National ceremony, State ceremony
- huì会diǎn典a compilation of State regulations
- pì僻diǎn典rare allusion
- shì释diǎn典Buddhist scripture or sutras
- shū书diǎn典classics or ancient texts
- wén文diǎn典Literary classic, Canon of literature
- yào药diǎn典pharmacopoeia
- luò落chéng成dián典lǐ礼Inauguration ceremony, Completion ceremony
Idioms with 典
- diǎn典shēn身mài卖mìng命dedicate one's life and all
- diǎn典zhāng章wén文wù物historical statutes, institutions, and cultural relics
- gāo高wén文diǎn典cè册important official documents or records
- shǔ数diǎn典wàng忘zǔ祖forget one's heritage
- yǐn引jīng经jù据diǎn典quote classics to support argument
- diǎn典cè册gāo高wén文important classical documents and profound literary works
- bù不kān刊zhī之diǎn典Unalterable authoritative classic
- cháo朝zhāng章guó国diǎn典court and national regulations
- chū出hé何jīng经diǎn典What is the source of that statement?
- fén焚diǎn典kēng坑rú儒burn books and bury scholars alive
- gāo高wén文diǎn典cè策important imperial court documents
- gāo高wén文yǎ雅diǎn典Profound and elegant classic literary works
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Open the tool →Questions about 典
What does 典 mean in Chinese?
典 (diǎn) means “To preside over” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 典?
典 is pronounced diǎn in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 典 have?
典 has 8 strokes.
How do you write 典?
典 is written in 8 strokes, starting from the radical 八. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 典?
The radical of 典 is 八, and 典 is an ideographic compound.