About HanziStory
HanziStory is a free learning project for people who are beginning Chinese. Instead of asking learners to memorize an unfamiliar square, each lesson connects a character with a clear meaning, pronunciation, visual story, stroke order, and useful sentences.
How a lesson is built
We begin with the modern character and its everyday meaning. When reliable historical forms are available, we show the path from oracle-bone or bronze inscriptions to seal script and modern writing. When a historical form is unavailable, we say so and use a clearly labeled memory story rather than presenting imagination as etymology.
Designed for international learners
Explanations are written in plain English. Pinyin appears beside the character, and examples highlight the target word in Chinese, pronunciation, and translation so learners can connect all three.
Sources, editorial method, and corrections
Historical-form visuals come from the open-source etymology-svg collection. Character-history notes are checked against resources including Shuowen Jiezi, Richard Sears’ Chinese Etymology, and Yinqi Wenyuan. Stroke-order practice is powered by HanziWriter.
We use a three-step editorial check. First, a historical statement must be supported by a named reference or clearly labeled as uncertain. Second, an ancient glyph is displayed only when the matching source image exists. Third, the English explanation is rewritten for beginners without presenting a memory story as historical fact.
Character history can involve scholarly disagreement, and simplified characters may combine more than one historical form. If a lesson is unclear or inaccurate, email cnning336@gmail.com with the character and the source you recommend. Corrections are reviewed before the lesson is updated.
Editorial framework last updated: August 10, 2026.
Our editorial promise
Educational content comes first. Affiliate recommendations and future advertising do not determine lesson content. We update lessons when better source material or clearer explanations become available.