典 (diǎn) is a Chinese character meaning “standard reference book”. It is written from 曲 (bent; crooked; a tune) and 八 (eight), one above the other, and takes 8 strokes.
Build the character for “standard reference book”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
曲 + 八
Top–bottom structure
Structure from: 现代字形拆分，经 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（笔 0–5 与「曲」6 画逐笔对应，笔 6–7 为「八」2 画，合 8 画）
Memory aid
Read the modern shape as a book block (曲) resting on two spread legs (八): a reference work set up on its stand, the standard you look things up in.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
8 strokes
In real words
- 字典zì diǎncharacter dictionary典 = diǎn
- 词典cí diǎndictionary (of words)典 = diǎn
Go deeper
All readings
standard work; canon
standard reference book; canon; classic; ceremony
可以当作标准或典范的书籍；也指隆重的仪式。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 字典zì diǎncharacter dictionary典 = diǎn
- 词典cí diǎndictionary (of words)典 = diǎn
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 典 mean?
典 (diǎn) means standard reference book; canon; classic; ceremony.
How do you pronounce 典?
It is pronounced diǎn.
What parts is 典 made of?
曲 (bent; crooked; a tune) and 八 (eight), one above the other. The recorded source is: 现代字形拆分，经 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验（笔 0–5 与「曲」6 画逐笔对应，笔 6–7 为「八」2 画，合 8 画）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 典 have?
8. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 典?
八. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 典?
Common ones are 字典 and 词典. The reading of 典 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.