How to Write 指 (zhǐ) — Meaning “to point; finger”

Imagine your finger pointing at a target, and the right side 旨 looks like a small person with a hat (the top dot) and a mouth (the 日 shape) below. Picture your finger saying, 'Look there!' to help link the meaning of pointing.

Pay attention to the stroke order: write the left radical 扌 first (three strokes: horizontal, vertical hook, lift), then the right side 旨 (top dot, then 日, then bottom 一? Actually 旨 has 9 total strokes: dot, vertical, horizontal, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, horizontal, horizontal? Better to note common mistake: the bottom of 旨 has two horizontal lines, not three. Keep the right side narrow so the character stays balanced.

指 (zhǐ) means to point or finger, using the hand radical. 㧜 (rare, pronounced luò or similar) is not common in modern Chinese and has a different right component (㕣?), so you won't need it for HSK study. 扭 (niǔ) means to twist or turn, with 丑 on the right; unlike 指, it involves a twisting motion, not pointing.

指 appears in common words like 手指 (finger), 指出 (to point out), and 指路 (to give directions). It is very practical for daily conversations, for example when asking for directions or when explaining something by pointing. There is no special cultural taboo, but pointing directly at a person with a finger can be considered rude in Chinese culture, just as in many others.

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.