Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
执 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
执
zhí
to execute (a plan)
v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #7000, Hard
执
zhí
to grasp
v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #7000, Hard
执
zhí
to execute; to grasp, to hold; to keep; to sieze, to detain
v, 6 strokes, radical 扌, rank #7000, Hard
zhí(zhi2)zhi T2
1to execute (a plan)
2to grasp
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
执(執)zhí(zhi2)
The character 执 (zhí) primarily means 'to hold' or 'to grasp.' It is often used in contexts related to executing plans or tasks, emphasizing the act of taking control or maintaining focus on a particular objective. This character can also convey a sense of persistence or determination in carrying out actions.
Strokes6Radical扌Frequency#7000DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the idea of 执 can be linked to the concept of perseverance (执着), which is highly valued in personal and professional contexts. It reflects the importance of commitment to one's goals and plans.
Memory tip
Imagine a person 'grasping' a 'stick' (the radical 执 looks like a hand holding something). Picture them resolutely holding onto that stick, representing their commitment to executing their plans. The sound 'zhí' can remind you of 'grasping' tightly so you don't let go.
Meanings of 执
zhí(zhi2)
1to execute (a plan)
2to grasp
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 执 means.
About 执
执Simplified
執Traditional
6Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7000Frequency Rank
Podcast: 执
Podcast: 执
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 执
Quick Contrast
掌 (zhǎng) - use 执 (zhí) when emphasizing control or execution of plans, while 掌 (zhǎng) focuses more on the act of holding or managing.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 执 with similar characters like 持 (chí), which also means 'to hold.' It's important to note that 执 is more about executing or persisting with an action. This word is generally neutral but may appear more formal in written contexts.
HSK Study Tips
Although 执 is not officially part of the HSK curriculum, it can be connected to HSK Level 4 words related to actions and execution, such as 实行 (shíxíng, to implement) or 进行 (jìnxíng, to carry out). Focus on the context of execution and holding when learning this character.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 执, saying it as 'zhī' instead of 'zhí.' Additionally, they might confuse it with 持 (chí) when discussing plans. Remember, 执 emphasizes the execution of actions.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 执
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 执, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 执 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 执?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 执 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.
The character 执 (zhí) primarily means 'to hold' or 'to grasp.' It is often used in contexts related to executing plans or tasks, emphasizing the act of taking control or maintaining focus on a particular objective. This character can also convey a sense of persistence or determination in carrying out actions.
When to use 执
Learners often confuse 执 with similar characters like 持 (chí), which also means 'to hold.' It's important to note that 执 is more about executing or persisting with an action. This word is generally neutral but may appear more formal in written contexts.
执 or something close to it
掌 (zhǎng) - use 执 (zhí) when emphasizing control or execution of plans, while 掌 (zhǎng) focuses more on the act of holding or managing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 执, saying it as 'zhī' instead of 'zhí.' Additionally, they might confuse it with 持 (chí) when discussing plans. Remember, 执 emphasizes the execution of actions.
Write 执
执
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 执 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 执
执 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
He says they mistakenly believed the standard licenses they held were sufficient.
10
他因是个严格纪律执行者而闻名遐迩。
tā yīn shì gè yángé jìlǜ zhíxíng zhě ér wénmíng xiá ěr。
He has a reputation for being a strict disciplinarian.
11
老师决定执行我们的学习计划。
Lǎoshī juédìng zhíxíng wǒmen de xuéxí jìhuà.
The teacher decided to execute our study plan.
12
经理要执行新的工作安排。
Jīnglǐ yào zhíxíng xīn de gōngzuò ānpái.
The manager is going to execute the new work schedule.
13
我们需要立即执行这个计划。
Wǒmen xūyào lìjí zhíxíng zhège jìhuà.
We need to execute this plan immediately.
14
他负责执行公司的年度计划。
Tā fùzé zhíxíng gōngsī de niándù jìhuà.
He is responsible for executing the company's annual plan.
15
老师决定执行新的教学计划。
Lǎoshī juédìng zhíxíng xīn de jiàoxué jìhuà.
The teacher decided to execute the new teaching plan.
16
我们开始执行这个项目下周。
Wǒmen kāishǐ zhíxíng zhège xiàngmù xiàzhōu.
We will start to execute this project next week.
17
老师决定执行我们的学习计划。
Lǎoshī juédìng zhíxíng wǒmen de xuéxí jìhuà.
The teacher decided to execute our study plan.
18
经理要执行新的工作安排。
Jīnglǐ yào zhíxíng xīn de gōngzuò ānpái.
The manager is going to execute the new work schedule.
19
我们需要立即执行这个计划。
Wǒmen xūyào lìjí zhíxíng zhège jìhuà.
We need to execute this plan immediately.
20
他负责执行公司的年度计划。
Tā fùzé zhíxíng gōngsī de niándù jìhuà.
He is responsible for executing the company's annual plan.
21
老师决定执行新的教学计划。
Lǎoshī juédìng zhíxíng xīn de jiàoxué jìhuà.
The teacher decided to execute the new teaching plan.
22
我们开始执行这个项目下周。
Wǒmen kāishǐ zhíxíng zhège xiàngmù xiàzhōu.
We will start to execute this project next week.
23
老师决定执行我们的学习计划。
Lǎoshī juédìng zhíxíng wǒmen de xuéxí jìhuà.
The teacher decided to execute our study plan.
24
经理要执行新的工作安排。
Jīnglǐ yào zhíxíng xīn de gōngzuò ānpái.
The manager is going to execute the new work schedule.
25
我们需要立即执行这个计划。
Wǒmen xūyào lìjí zhíxíng zhège jìhuà.
We need to execute this plan immediately.
26
他负责执行公司的年度计划。
Tā fùzé zhíxíng gōngsī de niándù jìhuà.
He is responsible for executing the company's annual plan.
27
老师决定执行新的教学计划。
Lǎoshī juédìng zhíxíng xīn de jiàoxué jìhuà.
The teacher decided to execute the new teaching plan.
28
我们开始执行这个项目下周。
Wǒmen kāishǐ zhíxíng zhège xiàngmù xiàzhōu.
We will start to execute this project next week.
29
老师决定执行我们的学习计划。
Lǎoshī juédìng zhíxíng wǒmen de xuéxí jìhuà.
The teacher decided to execute our study plan.
30
经理要执行新的工作安排。
Jīnglǐ yào zhíxíng xīn de gōngzuò ānpái.
The manager is going to execute the new work schedule.
31
我们需要立即执行这个计划。
Wǒmen xūyào lìjí zhíxíng zhège jìhuà.
We need to execute this plan immediately.
32
他负责执行公司的年度计划。
Tā fùzé zhíxíng gōngsī de niándù jìhuà.
He is responsible for executing the company's annual plan.
33
老师决定执行新的教学计划。
Lǎoshī juédìng zhíxíng xīn de jiàoxué jìhuà.
The teacher decided to execute the new teaching plan.
34
我们开始执行这个项目下周。
Wǒmen kāishǐ zhíxíng zhège xiàngmù xiàzhōu.
We will start to execute this project next week.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 执?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Word Family of 执
Compounds10
热rèto warm up
势shìpower
垫diànpad
挚zhìsurname Zhi
亵xièdirty, ragged; slight, insult, disrespect
蛰zhéto hibernate
絷zhíto tie up, to shackle; to imprison, to confine
贽zhìtribute; a gift given to a superior
鸷zhìhawk, vulture
兿yì
Words containing this character20
执行zhíxíngto implement執行
执法zhífǎto enforce a law執法
执照zhízhàolicense執照
争执zhēngzhíto dispute爭執
执zhíto grasp執
固执gùzhiobstinate固執
执政zhízhèngto hold power執政
执着zhízhuóto be dedicated執著
偏执piānzhíprejudice偏執
执教zhíjiàoto teach執教
执勤zhíqínto be on duty (of a security guard etc)執勤
执业zhíyèpractitioner執業
执政官zhízhèngguānconsul (of the Roman Republic)執政官
执意zhíyìto insist on執意
执导zhídǎoto direct (a film, play etc)執導
执政党zhízhèngdǎngruling party執政黨
执掌zhízhǎngto wield (power etc)執掌
固执己见gùzhíjǐjiànto persist in one's views固執己見
执迷不悟zhímíbúwùto obstinately persist in going about things the wrong way (idiom)執迷不悟
执笔zhíbǐto write執筆
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 执
What does 热 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 执
执 is often found in idiomatic expressions such as 执念 (zhíniàn), meaning an obsessive thought or fixation. It emphasizes the aspect of holding onto something strongly, whether it's a thought or an action.
Some synonyms for 执 include 抓 (zhuā), which means to grab, and 持 (chí), which means to hold or maintain. Each synonym might carry slightly different connotations depending on the context.
执 (zhí) means to grasp, to hold, or to execute a plan. It can also imply the idea of seizing or detaining something. In various contexts, it might refer to holding onto an idea or implementing a specific action.
You can use 执 in sentences like '他执着于自己的信念' (Tā zhízhuó yú zìjǐ de xìnniàn), which means 'He is persistent in his beliefs.' It is often used when discussing holding onto something, whether it's a belief, a plan, or a physical object.
You can say '他执着于自己的理想' (Tā zhízháo yú zìjǐ de lǐxiǎng), meaning 'He is committed to his ideals.'
Yes, while it's more formal, it can be used in casual settings when discussing goals or actions.
Synonyms include 持 (chí, to hold) and 执行 (zhíxíng, to execute), but each has its nuances.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 执?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
