Han characters, known as Hànzì (汉字) in Chinese, Kanji in Japanese, and Hanja in Korean, are logographic characters originally developed in ancient China. Unlike alphabetic systems where symbols represent sounds, each Han character is a logogram, representing a morpheme (a unit of meaning) and often a syllable. This means a single character can convey both sound and meaning.
The traditional narrative attributes the invention of Han characters to Cang Jie (蒼頡), a official historian of the Yellow Emperor (Huang Di) around 2650 BCE. Legend says he was inspired by the patterns of bird tracks and the stars to create the first writing system. While Cang Jie is likely a mythical figure representing the collective effort of many ancient scribes, his story underscores the profound importance placed on writing in Chinese culture.
Number of Characters
The total number of Han characters is vast and has accumulated over millennia.
The Yìtǐzì Zìdiǎn (異體字字典) dictionary compiled in Taiwan contains over 100,000 characters.
However, the vast majority of these are archaic, variant, or extremely rare forms.
For practical purposes:
A well-educated native Chinese speaker knows approximately 8,000 characters.
Knowledge of around 3,500-4,000 characters is sufficient for reading modern newspapers and literature with high comprehension.
How much Characters for Basic Conversation?
For a beginner aiming to handle simple, everyday dialogues, the focus should be on high-frequency characters. It is not the number of characters alone, but their combination into words that enables communication.
A solid foundation consists of approximately 350 to 500 basic characters.
Mastering this core set allows you to understand a significant portion of common written materials and form essential phrases for greetings, shopping, dining, and travel.
For official reference, the Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì (HSK), China’s standardized proficiency test for non-native speakers, requires:
HSK Level 1: 150 words (based on ~100 characters)
HSK Level 2: 300 words (based on ~200 characters)
Achieving HSK Level 2 is a realistic initial goal for engaging in simple conversations.
Fundamental Rules of Writing
Writing Han characters correctly requires adherence to specific rules and a fixed order of strokes. This is crucial for legibility, balance, and speed, especially when writing in cursive styles.
The Eight Basic Strokes (基本笔画 – Jīběn Bǐhuà)
All Han characters are constructed from a set of fundamental strokes. The most important are encapsulated in the character 永 (yǒng) meaning “eternity,” which contains the eight basic strokes. Mastering these is the first step.
Fundamental Stroke Order Rules (笔顺规则 – Bǐshùn Guīzé)
Following the correct stroke order makes writing more intuitive and the final character more balanced.
Top to Bottom: (从上到下)
Example : 三 (sān – three) is written: First 一, then 一, then 一.
Left to Right: (从左到右)
Example: 你 (nǐ – you) is written: Left radical 亻 first, then the right part 尔.
Horizontal before Vertical: (先横后竖)
Example: 十 (shí – ten) is written: Horizontal 一 first, then vertical 丨
Left-Falling (Piě) before Right-Falling (Nà): (先撇后捺) · Example: 人 (rén – person) is written: 丿 first, then ㇏.
Outside before Inside: (先外后内)
Example: 同 (tóng – same) is written: Outer frame 冂 first, then inside 口.
Inside before Closing: (先里头后封口) · For enclosed characters, fill the inside before closing the bottom.
Example: 日 (rì – sun/day) is written: Left 丨, top ┐, inside 一, then bottom closing 一.
Center before Symmetrical Wings: (先中间后两边) · Example: 小 (xiǎo – small) is written: Center 亅 first, then left 丶, then right 丶.
Conclusion
Embarking on the journey of learning Han characters is a rewarding endeavor that opens a window to ancient cultures and modern communication. Begin by mastering the basic strokes and their order. Focus on acquiring a core vocabulary of 350-500 high-frequency characters, and practice combining them into words and simple sentences. With consistent practice, you will build a strong foundation for understanding and using this elegant and profound writing system
Referensi :
https://lib.ui.ac.id/detail?id=20272260&lokasi=lokal
https://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/i ndex.php/longdaxiaokan/article/view/32578