相同的笔画可能构成不同的汉字，比如一撇一捺，可能是“八[bā]”、“人[rén]”，也可能是“入[rù]”；由一横、一竖、一横这三笔构成的汉字，可能是“工[gōng]”，可能是“土[tǔ]”，也可能是“士[shì]”，还可能是“干[gān]”。仔细观察可以发现，同一个笔画在不同的汉字中会发生一些变化。

Chinese characters are made out of simple basic strokes. A good first step to learn Chinese characters is to learn the basic strokes. 

笔画指书写汉字时不间断的一次连续写成的一个线条，因此笔画是汉字最基本的书写单位。汉字中共有八种基本笔画，他们分别是“横、竖、撇、捺、点、钩、折、提”。

Chinese characters have complex structures, but if they are disintegrated, some basic strokes–the minimum components, will be exposed. Mastering how to write the basic strokes is a necessary step before being able to write correct and beautiful characters.

Chinese characters are square-shaped written symbols to record the Chinese language. They are composed at three levels: strokes, components and the whole characters. Strokes are the smallest constituents of Chinese characters. In writing, a single movement of the pen (from the point where it touches the paper to the place where it is lifted) is called a stroke.