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趾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
趾
zhǐ
toe; tracks, footprints
n, 11 strokes, radical 足, rank #13901, Very Hard
zhǐ(zhi3)zhi T3
1toe; tracks, footprints
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March 24, 2026
趾zhǐ(zhi3)
The character 趾 (zhǐ) primarily refers to the 'toe' of the foot. It can also denote tracks or footprints, emphasizing the marks left by feet. This term is commonly used in anatomical or descriptive contexts.
Strokes11Radical足Frequency#13901DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the health of your toes (趾) is believed to reflect overall bodily health, linking foot care to wellness practices in daily life.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant toe (趾) standing tall on the ground, leaving a big footprint (足) behind. The character has the foot radical (足) which connects to its meaning, and you can remember its pronunciation 'zhǐ' by picturing a shoe size chart that measures each toe.
Meanings of 趾
zhǐ(zhi3)
1toe; tracks, footprints
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 趾 means.
About 趾
趾Simplified
11Strokes
足Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 趾
Podcast: 趾
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AI Study Notes for 趾
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 趾 with similar-sounding characters. It is more formal and anatomical than the general term for 'foot' (脚, jiǎo). Common collocations include '足趾' (zú zhǐ), meaning 'toe', emphasizing its anatomical context.
HSK Study Tips
Although 趾 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 3 words related to body parts, like 手 (shǒu, hand) and 足 (zú, foot). Focus on recognizing it in medical or anatomical texts as you advance your vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 趾 with 脚 (jiǎo), which means 'foot'. For example, saying '我的趾痛' (wǒ de zhǐ tòng) is incorrect; it should be '我的脚痛' (wǒ de jiǎo tòng) for 'my foot hurts'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 趾
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How Well Do You Know 趾?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 趾 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
趾 = 足 + 止. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 趾
IDS Structure⿰足止
趾Full character
=
足ju4
left
止zhi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 趾?
How to say toe; tracks, footprints in Chinese
“toe; tracks, footprints” in Chinese is趾zhǐ
The character 趾 (zhǐ) primarily refers to the 'toe' of the foot. It can also denote tracks or footprints, emphasizing the marks left by feet. This term is commonly used in anatomical or descriptive contexts.
When to use 趾
Be cautious not to confuse 趾 with similar-sounding characters. It is more formal and anatomical than the general term for 'foot' (脚, jiǎo). Common collocations include '足趾' (zú zhǐ), meaning 'toe', emphasizing its anatomical context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 趾 with 脚 (jiǎo), which means 'foot'. For example, saying '我的趾痛' (wǒ de zhǐ tòng) is incorrect; it should be '我的脚痛' (wǒ de jiǎo tòng) for 'my foot hurts'.
Write 趾
趾
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Practice writing 趾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 趾
趾 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她意识到自己____高气扬的步伐已变成了拖着脚走路了。
She noticed her own proud walk had become a shuffle.
Example Sentences for 趾 (10)
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1
她意识到自己趾高气扬的步伐已变成了拖着脚走路了。
tā yì shí dào zì jǐ zhǐ gāo qì yáng de bù fá yǐ biàn chéng le tuō zháo jiǎo zǒu lù le。
She noticed her own proud walk had become a shuffle.
2
五大三粗的恶汉趾高气扬地走过来，居高临下地对我咆哮着。
wǔ dà sān cū de è hàn zhǐ gāo qì yáng dì zǒu guò lái， ， jū gāo lín xià dì duì wǒ páo xiào。
The burly brute swaggered forward, towering over me, and shouted.
