How many strokes does the Chinese character "林" (lín) have?
"林" has 8 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 木, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.
Ready · 8 strokes
Speed:
Nature & Elements
Name: Highly Recommended
Tattoo: Better in a Phrase
林 Forest in Chinese (lín)
Dictionary Summary
林 (lín) means surname Lin; Japanese surname Hayashi; (bound form) woods; forest. Simplified form has 8 strokes under radical 木.
Pinyin & Tonelín (Tone 2)
Simplified / Trad.林 / 林
Radical木
Total Strokes8 strokes
StructureLeft–Right (木 + 木)
Unicode / LevelU+6797 · HSK 3
Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review
🪪 Using “林” in a Chinese Name · Highly Recommended (Unisex)
Also one of the top Chinese surnames (Lin). As a given name character (e.g., 翰林, 沐林, 语林), it feels organic, grounded, and naturally echoes English names like Lynn, Liam, or Oliver.
✒️ Using “林” for a Tattoo · Better in a Phrase
As a standalone character, native speakers first recognize 林 as a common surname ('Mr./Ms. Lin'). Pair as 竹林 (bamboo grove) or 森森木林 for nature motifs.
Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings
Origin & Visual Logic: Two trees (木 + 木) standing side by side—one of the clearest compound ideographs in Chinese.
| Traditional / Simplified | Pinyin | CC-CEDICT Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| 林 / 林 | Lín | surname Lin; Japanese surname Hayashi |
| 林 / 林 | lín | (bound form) woods; forest; (bound form) circle(s) (i.e. specific group of people); (bound form) a collection (of similar things) |
Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).
Common Words & Idioms Using “林”
| Chinese Word | Pinyin | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 森林 | sēnlín | forest | |
| 竹林 | zhúlín | bamboo grove | |
| 林间 | línjiān | among the woods |
English Names Using “林” in Our Curated Recommendations
See how native speakers pair 林 (lín) into modern Chinese names:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "林" good to use in a real Chinese name?
Rating: Highly Recommended (Unisex). Also one of the top Chinese surnames (Lin). As a given name character (e.g., 翰林, 沐林, 语林), it feels organic, grounded, and naturally echoes English names like Lynn, Liam, or Oliver.
Is "林" safe as a Chinese character tattoo?
Tattoo rating: Better in a Phrase. As a standalone character, native speakers first recognize 林 as a common surname ('Mr./Ms. Lin'). Pair as 竹林 (bamboo grove) or 森森木林 for nature motifs.