零
零 (líng) means “zero”. It is made of 雨 + 令 and has 13 strokes, and is an HSK 1 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 零 into its parts
What 零 is made of
- 雨 yǔ — rain
- 帀 zā — to rotate
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 巾 jīn — cloth
- 帀 zā — to rotate
- 令 lìng — command
- 人 rén — person
Origin hint: 雨 gives the meaning, 令 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
零 stroke order
Example sentences
现在是八点零五分。Xiànzài shì bā diǎn líng wǔ fēn.It's five past eight now.
他考了零分。Tā kǎo le líng fēn.He got zero on the test.
Words with 零
- 零下língxiàbelow zero
- 零食língshísnack
- 零钱língqiánsmall change
- 零件língjiànpart
- 零星língxīngscattered
- 零花钱línghuāqiánpocket money
Also built with 雨
- 雪xuěsnow
- 雷léithunder
- 雹báohail
- 雾wùfog
- 需xūto need
- 震zhènshake
- 霉méimildew
- 霍huòquickly
- 霜shuāngfrost
- 霞xiárosy clouds
- 露lùdew
- 霸bàtyrant
Quick facts
| Pinyin | líng |
|---|---|
| Meaning | zero |
| Strokes | 13 |
| Radical | 雨 (rain, #173) |
| Pattern | Top–bottom |
| HSK | HSK 1 (exam 2025) · HSK 1 (2021) · Old HSK 2 |
Questions about 零
What does 零 mean?
零 (líng) means “zero”.
How many strokes does 零 have?
零 has 13 strokes.
What is the radical of 零?
The radical of 零 is 雨 (yǔ, “rain”), Kangxi radical number 173.
What parts make up 零?
零 is made of 雨 (rain) and 令 (command).
Which HSK level is 零?
零 is in HSK 1 (exam 2025) and HSK 1 (2021) and Old HSK 2.
Learn 零 with its group
It is part of HSK 1 (2021) · Group 25: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.