土
土 (tǔ) means “soil”. It is made of 十 + 一 and has 3 strokes, and is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 土 into its parts
What 土 is made of
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: A lump of clay on a potter's wheel (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
土 stroke order
Example sentences
他的鞋上都是土。Tā de xié shang dōu shì tǔ.His shoes are covered in dirt.
这里的土很适合种花。Zhèlǐ de tǔ hěn shìhé zhòng huā.The soil here is good for growing flowers.
Words with 土
Also built with 十
- 什shénwhat? mixed
- 克kègram
- 千qiānthousand
- 升shēngto rise
- 华huáflowery
- 协xiéto assist
- 卑bēihumble
- 卖màito sell
- 南nánsouth
- 博bóto gamble
- 古gǔancient
- 叶yèleaf
Quick facts
| Pinyin | tǔ |
|---|---|
| Meaning | soil; earth; dust |
| Strokes | 3 |
| Radical | 土 (earth, #32) |
| Pattern | Top–bottom |
| HSK | HSK 4 (exam 2025) · HSK 3 (2021) |
Questions about 土
What does 土 mean?
土 (tǔ) means “soil; earth; dust”.
How many strokes does 土 have?
土 has 3 strokes.
What is the radical of 土?
The radical of 土 is 土 (tǔ, “earth”), Kangxi radical number 32.
What parts make up 土?
土 is made of 十 (ten) and 一 (horizontal stroke).
Which HSK level is 土?
土 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021).
Learn 土 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 44: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.