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March 24, 2026
至zhì(zhi4)
The character 至 (zhì) has several meanings, primarily 'to arrive' or 'to reach.' It is commonly used in contexts related to time or distance, indicating the point of arrival or the extent of something, such as 'until' or 'most extreme.' In phrases, it can indicate a goal or destination.
Strokes6Radical至Frequency#1690DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of arriving at a destination can be metaphorical, symbolizing achieving goals or reaching maturity, which is often celebrated in various cultural narratives.
Memory Tip
Visualize a person reaching the peak of a mountain (the character's form can resemble a mountain). When they arrive (至), they shout out 'I have reached the top!' Think of 'zhì' like 'zip to the top' to remember the pronunciation and meaning.
Meanings of 至
zhì(zhi4)
1to arrive
2most
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 至
至Simplified
6Strokes
至Radical
介词jiècípreposition (prep.)Part of Speech
#1690Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 至
Podcast: 至
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AI Study Notes for 至
Quick Contrast
至 (zhì) vs 到 (dào) — use 至 for formal contexts or when indicating a limit, while 到 is more commonly used for general arrival.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the usage of 至 in formal contexts, as it can sound overly formal in casual speech. Common collocations include 至今 (zhì jīn, 'until now') and 至少 (zhì shǎo, 'at least'). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that express different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
至 is often introduced around HSK 4, where learners begin to encounter more complex sentence structures. It's helpful to connect this word with other directional or temporal words such as 到 (dào, 'to arrive') and 从 (cóng, 'from') to strengthen understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 至 with similar characters like 只 (zhǐ, 'only'), leading to sentences like '我至喜欢这个' (Wǒ zhì xǐhuān zhège, 'I to like this'), which should be '我只喜欢这个' (Wǒ zhǐ xǐhuān zhège). Ensure you understand the contexts for using each word correctly.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 至
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2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 至? 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 至?
Decomposition of 至
IDS Structure⿱⿱一厶土
至Full Character
=
一yi1
top
厶mou3
bottom
土Tu3
Exercise 1 of 3
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 至?
How to say to arrive in Chinese
“to arrive” in Chinese is至zhì
The character 至 (zhì) has several meanings, primarily 'to arrive' or 'to reach.' It is commonly used in contexts related to time or distance, indicating the point of arrival or the extent of something, such as 'until' or 'most extreme.' In phrases, it can indicate a goal or destination.
When to use 至
Be cautious with the usage of 至 in formal contexts, as it can sound overly formal in casual speech. Common collocations include 至今 (zhì jīn, 'until now') and 至少 (zhì shǎo, 'at least'). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that express different meanings.
至 or something close to it
至 (zhì) vs 到 (dào) — use 至 for formal contexts or when indicating a limit, while 到 is more commonly used for general arrival.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 至 with similar characters like 只 (zhǐ, 'only'), leading to sentences like '我至喜欢这个' (Wǒ zhì xǐhuān zhège, 'I to like this'), which should be '我只喜欢这个' (Wǒ zhǐ xǐhuān zhège). Ensure you understand the contexts for using each word correctly.
Write 至
至
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Grammar Patterns of 至
至 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. It carries 5 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.
They may even have raced each other — but not regularly.
Cultural Notes for 至
💡Did you know?
The character '至' is often used in formal writing and can express the idea of 'reaching' a certain point or 'until'. It is common in expressions related to time and distance.
Word Family of 至
Compounds44
到dao4to (a place)
室Shi4surname Shi
屋wu1house
致zhi4fine
侄zhi2variant of 姪
窒zhi4to obstruct, to stop
蛭zhi4leech
臻zhen1to reach, to arrive; utmost, superior
臺tai2platform; unit; term of address
桎zhi4shackles, fetters, handcuffs
姪zhi2niece
厔
咥die2the sound of a cat; to laugh; to bite
垤die2anthill; hill mound
眰
秷
绖
耊
耋die2aged; in one's eighties
跮
轾zhi4the back of a cart
郅Zhi4to grow, to flourish; superlative
铚
峌
庢
恎
挃
晊
洷
痓
祬
絰
胵
臵
臶
臷
臸
臹
荎
誈
輊zhi4the back of a cart
銍
駤
鵄
Words Containing This Character20
甚至shènzhìeven
至zhìmost
至少zhìshǎoat least
至于zhìyúas for至於
至今zhìjīnso far
截至jiézhìup to (a time)
直至zhízhìlasting until
乃至nǎizhìand even
不至于búzhìyúnot as bad as不至於
以至于yǐzhìyúdown to以至於
至关重要zhìguānzhòngyàovital至關重要
至此zhìcǐso far
至极very至極
至上supreme
冬至Winter Solstice, 22nd of the 24 solar terms 二十四節氣|二十四节气 22nd December-5th January
以至yǐzhìdown to
自始至终zìshǐzhìzhōngfrom start to finish (idiom)自始至終
至高无上supreme至高無上
时至今日even now時至今日
甚至于shènzhìyúso much (that)甚至於
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 到 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 至
至 and 到 (dào) both relate to arriving or reaching a place, but they are used differently. 至 is often used in formal contexts or to indicate a limit, while 到 is more commonly used in everyday conversation to simply mean 'to arrive'.
Yes, 至 is used in several idiomatic expressions, such as '至高无上' (zhì gāo wú shàng), meaning 'supreme' or 'the highest'. These expressions often convey a sense of ultimate or utmost importance.
至 (zhì) means 'to arrive' or 'until' in Chinese. It can also be used to indicate the highest degree of something, as in 'most'. This character is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.
至 can be used to indicate a destination or the extent of something. For example, you might say '我至今没有收到消息' (Wǒ zhì jīn méiyǒu shōudào xiāoxī), which means 'I have not received any news until now.' It's often used in more formal contexts.
Common phrases include 至今 (zhì jīn, 'until now') and 至少 (zhì shǎo, 'at least'). These phrases can help you understand the versatility of the character in different contexts.
Yes, but it is more commonly found in formal writing or speech. In casual conversation, simpler terms may be preferred.
No, 至 itself does not have a negative connotation; it is a neutral term that indicates reaching a point.
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