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March 24, 2026
指zhǐ(zhi3)
The character 指 (zhǐ) primarily means 'finger' or 'to point.' It is commonly used in contexts where one indicates something physically or metaphorically, such as pointing to an object or referring to a particular topic. Additionally, it conveys the idea of reliance or dependence on someone or something.
Strokes9Radical扌Frequency#580DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, pointing with the finger is often considered impolite when directed at people. Instead, it's more common to use the whole hand to gesture, reflecting a cultural emphasis on respect and subtlety in communication.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant finger (指) pointing towards a treasure (the meaning). The character has the radical for hand (扌), reminding you of the action of pointing. Picture someone dramatically pointing at a map, saying, 'This is where we depend on the treasure!'
Meanings of 指
zhǐ(zhi3)
1finger
2to point at or to
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 指
指Simplified
9Strokes
扌Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#580Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 指
Podcast: 指
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AI Study Notes for 指
Quick Contrast
指 (zhǐ) vs 指示 (zhǐshì) — use 指 when referring to the act of pointing or indicating in a physical sense, while 指示 emphasizes the act of giving instructions or directions.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant finger (指) pointing towards a treasure (the meaning). The character has the radical for hand (扌), reminding you of the action of pointing. Picture someone dramatically pointing at a map, saying, 'This is where we depend on the treasure!'
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 指 with similar characters like 指导 (zhǐdǎo, to guide), which implies a more supportive role. This character can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with tones; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings. Common collocations include 指出 (zhǐchū, to point out) and 指望 (zhǐwàng, to depend on).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 指 connects with other words related to direction and indication, such as 方向 (fāngxiàng, direction) and 指导 (zhǐdǎo, guidance). Students should focus on understanding its various uses in context, particularly in phrases that involve action and dependence.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, pointing with the finger is often considered impolite when directed at people. Instead, it's more common to use the whole hand to gesture, reflecting a cultural emphasis on respect and subtlety in communication.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to confuse 指 with the character 手 (shǒu), which means 'hand.' For example, saying '我用手指' (Wǒ yòng shǒu zhǐ) is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我用手指着' (Wǒ yòng shǒu zhǐzhe), meaning 'I am pointing with my finger.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 指
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Grammar Patterns of 指
指 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 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Family therapy showed us how to communicate with each other.
10
别指望我会去那儿看你。
bié zhǐ wàng wǒ huì qù nà ér kàn nǐ。
Don't expect me to come and visit you there.
Cultural Notes for 指
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, pointing with the finger can be considered rude, especially when pointing at a person. It's more polite to gesture with the whole hand or to use a nod instead.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, pointing with the finger is often considered impolite when directed at people. Instead, it's more common to use the whole hand to gesture, reflecting a cultural emphasis on respect and subtlety in communication.
Word Family of 指
Words Containing This Character20
指zhǐfinger
指出zhǐchūto indicate
指导zhǐdǎoto guide指導
指标zhǐbiāoquota指標
指数zhǐshùindex指數
指纹fingerprint指紋
指挥zhǐhuīto conduct指揮
戒指jièzhi(finger) ring
指控accusation
手指shǒuzhǐfinger
指望zhǐwànghope
指示zhǐshìto point out
指定zhǐdìngto appoint
指责zhǐzéto criticize指責
指挥官commander指揮官
指甲zhǐjiafingernail
指令zhǐlìngorder
指引zhǐyǐnto guide
股指stock market index
指向zhǐxiàngaimed at
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 指 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 指
Common phrases using 指 include '指挥' (zhǐhuī), which means 'to command' or 'to direct', and '指点' (zhǐdiǎn), meaning 'to point out' or 'to give guidance'. These phrases often imply the act of directing or indicating something clearly.
Yes, 指 (zhǐ) is used in various idiomatic expressions in Chinese. One such example is '指鹿为马' (zhǐ lù wéi mǎ), meaning 'to call a deer a horse', which refers to deliberately misrepresenting facts. Understanding these idioms can enhance your comprehension of the language and culture.
指 (zhǐ) means 'finger' and can also mean 'to point at' or 'to indicate'. It is commonly used in various contexts to refer to directing attention or indicating something specific. Additionally, it can imply dependence or reliance on something.
You can use 指 (zhǐ) in sentences to indicate direction or reference. For example, '我指向那座山' (Wǒ zhǐxiàng nà zuò shān) means 'I point to that mountain'. It's also used in phrases like '指望' (zhǐwàng), meaning 'to depend on' or 'to count on'.
You can use 指 to indicate something, like in the sentence '我指着地图' (Wǒ zhǐzhe dìtú), meaning 'I am pointing at the map.'
Yes, 指 can refer to relying on something, for example, '我指望你' (Wǒ zhǐwàng nǐ), meaning 'I depend on you.'
指 (zhǐ) means to point or indicate, while 指导 (zhǐdǎo) means to guide or instruct someone.
