How to Write 肢 (zhī) — Meaning “Limb.”

Picture the left side 月 as a muscular arm, and the right side 支 as a branch-like support. Imagine your arm (月) holding up a tree branch (支) – that limb is your 肢.

Write the left radical 月 narrow and tall, then the right part 支 with equal width. The top stroke of 支 should be slightly shorter than the bottom horizontal, and the last stroke is a right-falling press (捺). A common mistake is making 月的 two horizontal lines too far apart.

肢 contains 月 plus 支 (a support), while 有 has 月 on top and 又 below, meaning 'to have'. 朊 has 月 plus 元 (origin), referring to a chemical compound, not a body part. Remember: 肢 = body + branch = limb.

肢 appears in common words like 四肢 (four limbs), 上肢 (upper limbs), and 肢体 (limbs and body). It is used in medical, fitness, and everyday descriptions of body parts. In Chinese culture, strong limbs are associated with health and vitality, so the character often appears in health-related texts.

Common words containing 肢 include: 四肢 (sì zhī) — Four limbs (arms and legs).; 肢体 (zhī tǐ) — Limbs; body.; 上肢 (shàng zhī) — Upper limb; arm.