LionelDuke
New member
My early Chinese handwriting was embarrassing—characters uneven, strokes in wrong order, everything looking crooked. I knew I needed help, so I researched proper techniques. Here's what fixed my handwriting 
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Use grid paper (田字格) – This was the biggest game-changer. The squares help you see proportions and keep characters balanced . Each part of the character should fit in its own imaginary square.
Learn stroke order properly – There's a reason stroke order exists! Characters written with correct order look more balanced and are easier to write quickly. Universal rules: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside .
Slow down – I was rushing. Now I write each character slowly, focusing on each stroke. Speed comes naturally with practice—don't force it.
Practice problem characters – I keep a list of characters I struggle with (for me, 赢 and 藏 are nightmares) and practice them daily until they improve .
Common mistakes to avoid:
.Use grid paper (田字格) – This was the biggest game-changer. The squares help you see proportions and keep characters balanced . Each part of the character should fit in its own imaginary square.
Learn stroke order properly – There's a reason stroke order exists! Characters written with correct order look more balanced and are easier to write quickly. Universal rules: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside .
Slow down – I was rushing. Now I write each character slowly, focusing on each stroke. Speed comes naturally with practice—don't force it.
Practice problem characters – I keep a list of characters I struggle with (for me, 赢 and 藏 are nightmares) and practice them daily until they improve .
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Writing too fast (slow down!)
- Skipping basic strokes practice
- Inconsistent spacing between characters
The "outside before inside" rule was a game-changer for me—especially for characters like 国. I also tape a character sheet to my wall and practice while waiting for coffee to brew. Little moments add up! Keep going, you're doing great! 