How to Write 枝 (zhī) — Meaning “branch; twig”

Imagine a tree (木) with a tiny branch that sticks out like the letter 'Y' — the right side 支 looks a bit like a branching fork. Picture a 'tree' holding a 'branch' shaped like a wishbone to help you recall the sound and shape.

The left radical 木 must be narrower, with its last stroke (a dot) placed just to the right of the vertical line. The right side 支 is slightly wider; be careful to write the top part (十) with a horizontal stroke before the vertical, and finish with a smooth right-falling stroke (捺) that extends outward.

朱 (zhū, meaning 'vermilion' or a surname) has no tree radical on the left — it is a single character with a vertical line through a horizontal one. 朴 (pǔ, meaning 'simple' or 'plain') also has the tree radical on the left, but its right side is 卜 (bǔ), a simple divination mark, not 支. 枝 always relates to a tree branch, while 朱 and 朴 have different meanings and pronunciations.

枝 is commonly used in words for tree parts, such as 树枝 (tree branch) and 枝叶 (branches and leaves). It also appears in poetic or literary phrases like 一枝花 to describe a single flower or a sprig, often symbolizing beauty or elegance. In Chinese culture, a branch (枝) can metaphorically represent a family lineage or a connected part of a whole.

Common words containing 枝 include: 树枝 (shù zhī) — Branch / Twig; 一枝花 (yī zhī huā) — a flower; a sprig of flowers; 枝叶 (zhī yè) — branches and leaves.