HSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 纟, rank #1834, Medium
纸
zhǐ
classifier for documents, letter etc
HSK 3, n, 7 strokes, radical 纟, rank #1834, Medium
zhǐ(zhi3) T3
1paper
2classifier for documents, letter etc
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March 24, 2026
纸(帋)zhǐ(zhi3)
The character 纸 (zhǐ) means 'paper' and is commonly used in both everyday and formal contexts. It refers to various types of paper, including stationery, documents, and writing materials, and it can also function as a classifier for these items.
Strokes7Radical纟Frequency#1834DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, paper has significant historical importance, particularly in calligraphy and painting. The invention of paper is attributed to Cai Lun during the Han Dynasty, making it a crucial element of communication and art.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large piece of paper (纸) that is so big it can wrap around you like a dress. The 'zh' sound in 'zhǐ' can be thought of as the sound of tearing paper, which helps to remember its meaning.
Meanings of 纸
zhǐ(zhi3)
1paper
2classifier for documents, letter etc
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 纸
纸Simplified
帋Traditional
7Strokes
纟Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1834Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 纸
Podcast: 纸
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AI Study Notes for 纸
Quick Contrast
纸 (paper) vs 报纸 (newspaper) — use 纸 for general paper types, while 报纸 specifically refers to newspapers.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 纸 with its variant 紙 (zhǐ), which is used in traditional Chinese. It's important to use the correct form based on the writing system context. Common collocations include 纸张 (zhǐzhāng, 'sheet of paper') and 纸盒 (zhǐhé, 'paper box').
HSK Study Tips
As a basic noun, 纸 (zhǐ) connects with other HSK Level 1 and 2 words related to stationery, such as 笔 (bǐ, 'pen') and 本 (běn, 'notebook'). Focus on its usage in simple sentences to describe objects.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use the wrong tone, pronouncing it as zhi instead of zhǐ. Additionally, some may forget to use the correct classifier; for instance, saying '一纸' (yī zhǐ) instead of '一张纸' (yī zhāng zhǐ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 纸
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Simplified form of 紙. Phonosemantic compound. 糹 represents the meaning and 氏 represents the sound.
1The meaning half纟 carries the sense.
2The sound half氏 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaysilk
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 纸? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 纸?
Decomposition of 纸
IDS Structure⿰纟氏
纸Full Character
=
纟si1
left
氏shi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 纸?
How to say paper in Chinese
“paper” in Chinese is纸zhǐ
The character 纸 (zhǐ) means 'paper' and is commonly used in both everyday and formal contexts. It refers to various types of paper, including stationery, documents, and writing materials, and it can also function as a classifier for these items.
When to use 纸
Learners often confuse 纸 with its variant 紙 (zhǐ), which is used in traditional Chinese. It's important to use the correct form based on the writing system context. Common collocations include 纸张 (zhǐzhāng, 'sheet of paper') and 纸盒 (zhǐhé, 'paper box').
纸 or something close to it
纸 (paper) vs 报纸 (newspaper) — use 纸 for general paper types, while 报纸 specifically refers to newspapers.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use the wrong tone, pronouncing it as zhi instead of zhǐ. Additionally, some may forget to use the correct classifier; for instance, saying '一纸' (yī zhǐ) instead of '一张纸' (yī zhāng zhǐ).
Write 纸
纸
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Practice writing 纸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 纸
纸 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). It carries 2 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.
