Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
侧cèthe side
亻person form of 人 · rénMeaning part
则rule · zéSound part
亻 hints at the meaning (person); 则 (zé) hints at the sound. Compare it with cè.
面miànface
面 is a single shape of 9 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
Memory aidDrawn from a face inside its outline.
How to write 侧面
侧 8 strokes · 面 9 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 侧面 (cèmiàn). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
侧面 (cèmiàn) means “side” or “aspect”. It is an HSK 6 word.
Say it cèmiàn: cè with a 4th tone, then miàn with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 侧面 is written 側面. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type cemian with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 侧面 from the suggestions. Typing cemian into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
侧面 is an HSK 6 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences written by WillyChina. Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
侧cè4th tone, falling
