档 (dàng) is a Chinese character meaning “files”. It is written from 木 (tree; wood) and 当 (to serve as; just at (a time); (here) sound component dāng), side by side, and takes 10 strokes.
Build the character for “file; grade”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
木 + 当
Left–right structure
Structure from: 现代字形 IDS 拆分 ⿰木当，并以 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验：笔画 0–3 为「木」四画，笔画 4–9 与「当」逐笔对应（4+6=10画）
Memory aid
Wood (木) + 当 (dāng): picture wooden shelves where every file is put in its proper slot — a file or grade, pronounced dàng.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
10 strokes
In real words
- 档案dàng ànfiles; archives; records档 = dàng
- 档次dàng cìgrade; level (of quality)档 = dàng
Go deeper
All readings
file; grade
files; archives; shelf with compartments for files; grade, level (of quality)
存放案卷的橱架，也指分类保存的文件材料；又指商品、产品的等级。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 档案dàng ànfiles; archives; records档 = dàng
- 档次dàng cìgrade; level (of quality)档 = dàng
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 档 mean?
档 (dàng) means files; archives; shelf with compartments for files; grade, level (of quality).
How do you pronounce 档?
It is pronounced dàng.
What parts is 档 made of?
木 (tree; wood) and 当 (to serve as; just at (a time); (here) sound component dāng), side by side. The recorded source is: 现代字形 IDS 拆分 ⿰木当，并以 hanzi-writer-data 笔画核验：笔画 0–3 为「木」四画，笔画 4–9 与「当」逐笔对应（4+6=10画）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 档 have?
10. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 档?
木. 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 档?
Common ones are 档案 and 档次. The reading of 档 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.