Level 3 · Unit 13 Weather, Atmosphere & Sky

How to Write 虹 (hóng)

Meaning: "Rainbow"
Step-by-Step Stroke Order Diagram
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Detailed Mastery Guide for 虹

The character 虹 (Traditional: 虹) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Rainbow". In our Level 3 curriculum, we focus on the 9-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.

Writing & Recognition

Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Weather, Atmosphere & Sky, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

Key Vocabulary

彩虹 cǎihóng coi2 hung4
rainbow
虹吸 hóngxī hung4 kap1
siphon

Radical Breakdown

Breaking it down: The character 虹 is built on the radical Insect (142). Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.

Etymology & Origins

Phono-semantic compound: 虫 (insect/creature) indicates the semantic category, while 工 (work/craft) provides the phonetic sound, originally referring to the rainbow as a dragon-like creature in the sky.

Example Sentence

Simplified: 雨后天空中出现了一道美丽的彩虹。

Yǔhòu tiānkōng zhōng chūxiànle yīdào měilì de cǎihóng.

Traditional: 雨後天空中出現了一道美麗的彩虹。

Jyu5 hau6 tin1 hung1 zung1 ceot1 jin6 liu5 jat1 dou6 mei5 lai6 dik1 coi2 hung4.

"A beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky after the rain."

Dialect Pronunciation

In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as hóng. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is hung4. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.

Practice & Retention

To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.

Quick Self-Check

What is the meaning of '虹'?

A) Rainbow
B) Storm
C) Sunlight
D) Cloud

Other Characters in Level 3 Unit 13

Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!

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