Free online handwriting input

Chinese handwriting input

Know the shape but not the pronunciation? Draw one character, choose a match, and copy the text.

Draw a character

Use your mouse, finger, or pen. Lift between strokes.

0 strokes

Choose a character

Your suggestions will appear here.

Your text

Your drawing is recognized on this device. No account or keyboard installation needed.

Character data and license

Stroke data: Make Me a Hanzi, derived from Arphic fonts, copyright © 1999 Arphic Technology Co., Ltd. Resampled and normalized by TypeChinese on October 12, 2026. Available under the Arphic Public License, without warranty. License · Download stroke data · Make Me a Hanzi

How to use handwriting input

Draw one character in the box with your mouse, finger, or stylus. Lift between strokes and keep the character centered.
Choose the matching character from the suggestions. Use Undo for a stray stroke or Clear drawing to start over.
Keep adding characters, then copy your text. You can also edit the text before copying.

Handwriting lookup tips

Does it recognize both Traditional and Simplified Chinese?

Yes. The stroke dictionary contains 9,574 character shapes across both scripts. It may miss rare characters, cursive writing, or heavily connected strokes. Write clearly and check the suggested character before using it.

What if the right character does not appear?

Draw the character larger, keep its parts in proportion, and lift between the usual strokes. Similar shapes such as 日 and 曰 can both appear in the suggestions. Undo an accidental stroke or clear the pad and try again.

Are my drawings sent anywhere?

Recognition runs in your browser after the character data loads. The tool does not send your drawings or entered text to a handwriting service. This page accepts drawn strokes, not uploaded photos.