Printable mi zi ge paper for Chinese calligraphy
Mi zi ge adds two diagonals to the tian zi ge cross, forming the shape of 米. The extra guides help with slanted strokes and balanced characters, which makes it popular for calligraphy.
9 × 13 squares · 20 mm
Ready-to-print mi zi ge paper templates
Print one as it is, download the PDF, or load it into the editor above to adjust it first.
Large 20 mm
Small 12 mm
Medium 15 mm
Brush 30 mm
What is mi zi ge paper?
Mi zi ge (米字格) divides each square with a horizontal, a vertical and two diagonal dashed lines, so the guides look like the character 米. The diagonals make it easier to judge slanted strokes such as 撇 and 捺 and to find the visual center of a character. It is widely used for both brush and hard-pen calligraphy, usually in red so the guides stay in the background.
What mi zi ge paper is used for
- Brush calligraphy practice with 20–30 mm squares
- Hard-pen calligraphy and neat handwriting
- Copying model characters from calligraphy books
- Learning stroke direction and character balance
Mi zi ge paper on A4, Letter and other paper sizes
| Paper size | Printed area | At default settings |
|---|---|---|
| A4default210 × 297 mm | 190 × 277 mm | 9 × 13 squares · 20 mm |
| US Letter8.5 × 11 in | 195.9 × 259.4 mm | 9 × 12 squares · 20 mm |
| A5148 × 210 mm | 128 × 190 mm | 6 × 9 squares · 20 mm |
| A3297 × 420 mm | 277 × 400 mm | 13 × 20 squares · 20 mm |
| US Legal8.5 × 14 in | 195.9 × 335.6 mm | 9 × 16 squares · 20 mm |
How to print mi zi ge paper at actual size
- 01
Click “Download PDF” and open the file in your PDF viewer.
- 02
In the print dialog, set the scale to 100% or “Actual size”, not “Fit to page”.
- 03
Choose the paper size that matches your settings and print. Measure one square or line with a ruler to check.
Mi zi ge paper: frequently asked questions
When should I use mi zi ge instead of tian zi ge?
Mi zi ge suits learners working on structure and slanted strokes, and is common for brush calligraphy. Tian zi ge is simpler and usual for first lessons.
What square size is best for brush calligraphy?
For small regular script (小楷), 15–20 mm squares work well. For larger characters use 30 mm or more, or set your own size.
Why is mi zi ge paper usually red?
Red guides are easy to see yet contrast clearly with black ink, so your strokes stand out. You can switch to green, gray or any color.
You might also need
Tian zi ge paper
Squares with a dashed cross for writing Chinese characters.
Jiu gong ge paper
Squares divided 3 × 3, the traditional calligraphy grid.
Pinyin tian zi ge paper
Pinyin lines above tian zi ge squares for first graders.
Chinese composition paper
400-square essay paper with a count every 100 characters.