How to Write 执 (zhí) — Meaning “to hold or execute”

Imagine a hand (扌) grabbing a round ball (丸) — that is the visual idea of holding something. For the pronunciation zhí, think of saying "zhee" like the start of "jeepers" while clutching a ball tightly. This connects the shape, sound, and meaning.

The stroke order is: first write the left radical 扌 with horizontal, vertical hook, then lift. Then write the right part 丸: a left-falling stroke from top right, a horizontal hook curving down left, and finally a dot inside the hook. A common mistake is making the right side too wide or forgetting the dot, so keep it compact.

The right side of 执 is 丸 (a ball shape with a dot inside), while 扎 has a simple curved stroke (乚) on the right. 扎 means 'to prick' or 'to tie', but 执 means 'to hold' or 'to execute'. Remember: 执 has a dot, like a ball you hold; 扎 has a hook, like a needle that pricks.

执 appears in formal words like 执行 (to execute a plan), 执照 (license, e.g., a driver's license), and 执着 (persistent, often describing a strong dedication). In culture, 执着 can be positive (focused) or negative (stubborn), and 执照 is essential for legal activities like driving or running a business.

Common words containing 执 include: 执行 (zhí xíng) — to execute; to carry out; to implement; 执照 (zhí zhào) — license; 执着 (zhí zhuó) — persistent.