指 (zhǐ) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 指 (zhǐ) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 指 (zhǐ) means "to point; finger". It is an HSK Level 3 character, with 9 strokes and the radical 扌.

Q: How do you write 指 stroke by stroke?

指 has 9 strokes. The radical is 扌. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 指 and 㧜?

指 (zhǐ) and 㧜 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 指?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 扌. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 指?

Common words containing 指 include: 手指 (shǒu zhǐ) — finger; 指出 (zhǐ chū) — to point out; to indicate; 指路 (zhǐ lù) — to show the way; to give directions.

How to Write 指

The character 指 (zhǐ) is written with 9 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 扌 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

指 is pronounced zhǐ in Mandarin Chinese. It means to point; finger.

As an HSK Level 3 character, 指 is an intermediate-level character.

Common Words with 指

手指 shǒu zhǐ

finger

指出 zhǐ chū

to point out; to indicate

指路 zhǐ lù

to show the way; to give directions

Example Sentences

我的手指受伤了。

wǒ de shǒu zhǐ shòu shāng le

My finger is injured.

老师指出了错字。

lǎo shī zhǐ chū le cuò zì

The teacher pointed out the typos.

请给我指路。

qǐng gěi wǒ zhǐ lù

Please show me the way.

Similar Characters

㧜 liè

扭 niǔ

扮 bàn

Practice Writing 指 (zhǐ)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 指 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 指

What does 指 (zhǐ) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 指 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 指 and 㧜?

What mistakes do learners make writing 指?

What common words use 指?

How to Write 指 (zhǐ)