2026-04-20

Tian Zi Ge vs Mi Zi Ge: Which Chinese Practice Grid?

Chinese practice paper isn’t graph paper with extra lines. The guides teach where the character sits in a square.

Tian zi ge (田) is a plus sign: one vertical, one horizontal. Beginners use it to keep the center (中宫) from drifting and to stop left/right components from crowding one side. Fine for early strokes and simple characters.

Mi zi ge (米) adds the two diagonals. That’s the one for 撇 and 捺 — the slanted strokes that want to run off the box. Adults copying model characters usually prefer mi zi ge; it shows stroke direction, not just centering.

Empty boxes drop the inner guides. That’s closer to composition paper and a lot of exam sheets. Use it once the hand can find the center without help. 20–25 mm cells for younger writers, 15 mm for smaller regular script.

Math grids are a different tool: graph paper. English handwriting uses four-line paper.

Switch styles and cells-per-row in the Chinese writing paper generator, then download a PDF. Light gray guides need print background graphics, or the dashed crosses disappear.

Related tool:Open Chinese writing paper →