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陟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
陟zhìto climb; to advance; progresszg, 9 strokes, radical 阝, rank #76120, Very Hard
陟zhìto ascendunknown, 9 strokes, radical 阝, rank #76120, Very Hard
陟zhìto promoteunknown, 9 strokes, radical 阝, rank #76120, Very Hard
zhì(zhi4)zhi T4
  1. 1to climb; to advance; progress
  2. 2to ascend
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March 24, 2026

陟zhì(zhi4)

The character 陟 (zhì) primarily means 'to climb' or 'to ascend.' It is often used in contexts related to advancement or promotion, whether in a physical sense, such as climbing a mountain, or metaphorically, such as advancing in one's career or social status.

Strokes9Radical阝Frequency#76120DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The concept of advancement represented by 陟 is often celebrated in Chinese culture, especially in the context of education and career. For instance, traditional examinations historically determined social status and opportunities for advancement.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'Z' shaped path leading up a steep hill, where each step up represents a progress or promotion. The character 陟 has a radical associated with elevation, visually reminding you of climbing upwards.

Meanings of 陟

zhì(zhi4)
1to climb; to advance; progress
2to ascend
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 陟

陟Simplified
9Strokes
阝Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 陟

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Podcast: 陟

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AI Study Notes for 陟

Quick Contrast

升 (shēng) - use 陟 (zhì) when emphasizing a more gradual or formal ascent, while 升 (shēng) often implies a more immediate or vertical rise.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 陟 with similar characters like 直 (zhí), which means 'straight' or 'direct.' This word is more formal and is often found in literary or historical contexts, making it less common in casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 陟 is not included in the standard HSK levels, it is useful for learners aiming for advanced proficiency. Connecting it with other characters related to progress, such as 提升 (tí shēng, to enhance) or 晋升 (jìn shēng, to promote), can deepen understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 陟 with 直 (zhí) due to similar pronunciation. For example, using '他直升了职位' (Tā zhí shēng le zhíwèi) is incorrect; it should be 陟 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 陟

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Etymology of 陟

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

walk

Semantic (meaning)步
+
Phonetic (sound)阝
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

陟 = 步 + 阝. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 陟

IDS Structure⿰阝步
陟Full Character
=
阝yi4
left
步Bu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 陟?

How to say to climb; to advance; progress in Chinese

“to climb; to advance; progress” in Chinese is陟zhì

The character 陟 (zhì) primarily means 'to climb' or 'to ascend.' It is often used in contexts related to advancement or promotion, whether in a physical sense, such as climbing a mountain, or metaphorically, such as advancing in one's career or social status.

When to use 陟

Be careful not to confuse 陟 with similar characters like 直 (zhí), which means 'straight' or 'direct.' This word is more formal and is often found in literary or historical contexts, making it less common in casual conversation.

陟 or something close to it

升 (shēng) - use 陟 (zhì) when emphasizing a more gradual or formal ascent, while 升 (shēng) often implies a more immediate or vertical rise.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 陟 with 直 (zhí) due to similar pronunciation. For example, using '他直升了职位' (Tā zhí shēng le zhíwèi) is incorrect; it should be 陟 instead.

Write 陟

陟

Practice writing 陟 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 陟

Words Containing This Character3
陟zhìto advance
武陟Wuzhi county in Jiaozuo, Henan
武陟县Wuzhi county in Jiaozuo, Henan武陟縣
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 陟

What does 武陟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 陟

You can say '他陟升了新的职位' (Tā zhì shēng le xīn de zhíwèi), meaning 'He has been promoted to a new position.'

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