Chinese handwriting tool
Chinese Stroke Order Animation Generator
Enter one Chinese character or a short sentence, watch every stroke appear in standard order, and download a GIF or MP4. Transparent GIF and WebM exports are also available.
Your stroke-order animation will appear here.
About this tool
A static character shows the finished shape, but it does not show how that shape is built. This generator reveals each stroke in sequence, which makes it useful for handwriting demonstrations, flashcards, classroom slides and short teaching videos.
Single character mode gives one character the full canvas. Sentence mode arranges up to 30 characters and writes them from left to right. Choose one to ten characters per row. Set the writing duration in 1-second steps, then add still time before and after the writing for editing. One character starts at 5 seconds within a 1–20 second range; multiple characters start at 3 seconds each, with a maximum of 8 seconds per character. Choose a practice grid, plain white or transparent background.
Everything is rendered in your browser. Your text and generated animation are not uploaded or stored; the finished GIF, MP4 or transparent WebM is downloaded directly to your device.
What it does
Single character mode
Choose an output size for your character animation and add a practice grid when you want writing guides.
Sentence mode
Arrange two to 30 Chinese characters in a grid, choose how many appear on each row, and animate them in reading order.
GIF and MP4 downloads
Use GIF for easy embedding in flashcards and documents, or MP4 for a smaller, smoother video when the browser supports H.264 encoding. Choose a practice grid or plain white background for either format. Exports sample the animation at 60 frames per second.
Set opening and closing still time
Add a hold before the first stroke and after the finished writing. The preview, GIF and video include both holds.
Transparent WebM export
Export the writing strokes without a background or practice guides, with an optional faint character outline, for layering in editors that support VP9 WebM transparency. This feature is currently available to try and planned for Hanzi Now Pro.
Standard stroke-order data
The animation uses the same Make Me a Hanzi data and Hanzi Writer rendering system as the character pages on this site.
Simplified and traditional characters
Both writing systems work when stroke data exists for the character; there is no automatic character conversion.
Private browser-side rendering
Animation frames are composed and encoded on your device rather than sending your text or video to a rendering server.
How to use it
- 1Choose a modeUse Single character for one large character, or Sentence for two to 30 characters. In Sentence mode, choose one to ten characters per row.
- 2Enter Chinese textType or paste the character or sentence. Punctuation and Latin text are ignored because they do not have Chinese stroke-order data.
- 3Generate and check the previewThe tool loads the required stroke data and plays the complete animation once. Choose Practice grid, White or Transparent under Background, toggle the faint character outline, and adjust the writing duration and opening and closing holds before export.
- 4Download the animationChoose Practice grid or White to download a GIF or MP4, or Transparent to download a transparent GIF or WebM. Video export requires a supported browser. Export runs in a background worker, so you may switch tabs while it finishes.
What people use it for
- Adding animated stroke order to Anki and other flashcard decks
- Preparing handwriting demonstrations for Chinese lessons
- Making short pronunciation and writing videos for social media
- Showing the construction of a name, idiom or vocabulary item
- Creating a visual reference before practising a character by hand
Frequently asked questions
Who is this stroke-order animation maker for?
Use it to create reusable Chinese handwriting animations for teaching videos, classroom slides and digital learning materials. It suits video creators, Chinese teachers and course authors who need an animation file to place in their own work.
How is this different from simply watching a stroke-order animation?
You can produce downloadable GIF and MP4 files, set the writing pace, arrange characters across rows, and add still time before and after the writing. The result is an animation asset you can reuse in your videos, presentations or teaching resources.
How do I make a Chinese handwriting clip for a video?
Choose Single character or Sentence, enter your Chinese text and check the preview. Select White, adjust the writing duration and opening and closing holds, then choose Download MP4 in a supported browser. Import the file into your video editor to combine it with your own narration, captions and footage.
Can I use the animation in Shorts, Reels or other vertical videos?
Yes. Download an MP4 and place it inside a vertical project in your video editor. Resize and position the character there, then add your captions or voiceover; your editor determines the finished video's dimensions.
How can teachers use the animation in lesson slides?
For a handwriting demonstration, choose Practice grid and keep the faint outline if you want a complete-character guide. Export GIF for slide software that plays animated images, or MP4 for a video you can play during the lesson.
Can I create animations for flashcards or lesson notes?
Choose GIF for an animated character prompt in a flashcard deck or lesson page that supports animated images. Use a short word or a single character and add a pause after the final stroke so learners can inspect its finished shape.
Can I animate a name, idiom or short sentence?
Yes. Sentence mode animates up to 30 Chinese characters in reading order, with one to ten characters per row. Enter the Chinese characters you want to demonstrate; punctuation, numbers and Latin text are ignored.
How do I adjust the animation for my explanation or voiceover?
Set the writing duration to the pace you want, then add Hold before for an opening pause and Hold after to keep the completed writing visible. Check the preview and adjust those timings before downloading. Add and align your narration in your video editor.
Which export format should I choose for my project?
Choose MP4 for a clip to edit into a teaching video, or GIF for an animated image in slides and flashcards. Both offer a practice grid or plain white background. Choose transparent GIF or WebM for background-free assets, and check that your destination software supports the selected format.
How do I overlay the writing on my own video or slide background?
Choose Transparent and download a transparent GIF or WebM; you can include or hide the faint character outline. Import the file above your background in software that supports its transparency. For WebM, test a short sample in an editor that supports VP9 alpha before exporting a longer clip.
Why is the MP4 button unavailable in my browser?
MP4 export requires browser support for H.264 video encoding. The button is disabled when that support is unavailable. Use GIF as the alternative, or export MP4 from a browser that supports the required encoding.
Which Chinese characters can I animate?
You can animate simplified and traditional Chinese characters when their stroke data is available; the tool preserves the characters you enter without converting between writing systems. Single character mode reports missing data. Sentence mode skips unsupported characters and tells you which ones were omitted.
Is my text uploaded or saved?
No. The browser downloads small stroke-data files, then renders and encodes the animation locally. Your input and generated file are not sent to this site's server or saved in a database.
Blogs and further reading
In-depth articles covering the background behind this tool.
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