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March 24, 2026
治zhì(zhi4)
The character 治 (zhì) primarily means to rule, govern, or manage. It is commonly used in contexts related to administration and control, such as in government or healthcare, where it can refer to treating diseases or managing resources. The nuances of this word reflect a sense of responsibility and authority over a particular domain.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#2242DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of governance is deeply tied to Confucian ideals, emphasizing moral leadership and the responsibility of rulers to care for their people, a sentiment encapsulated in the use of 治.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise ruler (zhì) sitting on a throne, holding a scroll (治) that contains the laws to manage a kingdom. The character itself has components suggesting order and control, with the 'water' radical indicating the ability to harness rivers, paralleling the control one has over a land or situation.
Meanings of 治
zhì(zhi4)
1to rule
2to govern
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 治
治Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2242Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRB1
Podcast: 治
Podcast: 治
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AI Study Notes for 治
Quick Contrast
治 (zhì) vs 管 (guǎn) — use 治 when emphasizing governance or treatment, while 管 focuses more on management or control.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include using 治 in overly casual contexts, where simpler verbs like 管 (guǎn) may be more appropriate. It's important to remember that 治 carries a more formal tone and is often used in official or serious contexts. Watch out for tone mistakes, as mispronouncing zhì can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although 治 is not at a specific HSK level, it connects well with words related to governance and management found in HSK 4 and 5. Students should focus on understanding its various meanings and contexts to avoid confusion with similar terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 治 with 管 (guǎn), thinking they can be used interchangeably. For example, saying '我治这个问题' (wǒ zhì zhège wèntí) instead of '我管这个问题' (wǒ guǎn zhège wèntí) can sound overly formal or incorrect in casual settings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 治
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Etymology of 治
Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 台 represents the sound. Originally referred to a body of water in Shandong province. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
The character 治 (zhì) primarily means to rule, govern, or manage. It is commonly used in contexts related to administration and control, such as in government or healthcare, where it can refer to treating diseases or managing resources. The nuances of this word reflect a sense of responsibility and authority over a particular domain.
When to use 治
Common mistakes include using 治 in overly casual contexts, where simpler verbs like 管 (guǎn) may be more appropriate. It's important to remember that 治 carries a more formal tone and is often used in official or serious contexts. Watch out for tone mistakes, as mispronouncing zhì can change the meaning entirely.
治 or something close to it
治 (zhì) vs 管 (guǎn) — use 治 when emphasizing governance or treatment, while 管 focuses more on management or control.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 治 with 管 (guǎn), thinking they can be used interchangeably. For example, saying '我治这个问题' (wǒ zhì zhège wèntí) instead of '我管这个问题' (wǒ guǎn zhège wèntí) can sound overly formal or incorrect in casual settings.
Write 治
治
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Grammar Patterns of 治
治 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 10 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.
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这些数据清楚地表明了环境污染的严重性，由此可见____理工作刻不容缓。
This data clearly shows the severity of environmental pollution — from this we can see that remediation work is urgent.
Common Confusions with 治
治vs知
zhī
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to rule”?
or
Usage Notes for 治
Misuse in ContextCommon Error
Learners often confuse 治 with 管理 (guǎnlǐ) when referring to managing a team or organization. 治 is more about governance and control, while 管理 is about administration.
1
他负责公司的管理，而不是治这家公司。
He is responsible for the management of the company, not for governing it.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他负责公司的管理，而不是____这家公司。
He is responsible for the management of the company, not for governing it.
Example Sentences for 治 (14)
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1
我讨厌被看作政治机器。
wǒ tǎo yàn bèi kàn zuò zhèng zhì jī qì。
I get sick of being thought of as a political automaton.
2
他们强烈感受到他们的宗教信仰与政治体制不相称。
tā mén qiáng liè gǎn shòu dào tā mén de zōng jiào xìn yǎng yǔ zhèng zhì tǐ zhì bù xiāng chēng。
They feel strongly that their religion is incompatible with the political system.
3
这种植物被用作治疗神经痛时的镇静药。
zhè zhǒng zhí wù bèi yòng zuò zhì liáo shén jīng tòng shí de zhèn jìng yào。
The plant acts as a sedative in treating neuralgia.
救治jiùzhìto provide critical care (to a patient or a diseased plant)
政治家statesman
治病zhìbìngto treat an illness
法治rule of law
自治autonomy
统治者ruler統治者
医治to treat (an illness)醫治
诊治to diagnose and treat診治
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 治
What does 治疗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 治
While both 治 and 管 can mean to manage or control, 治 often implies a broader scope of governance or ruling, while 管 focuses more on managing or supervising specific tasks or objects. For example, 治 is used in the context of ruling a country, whereas 管 might refer to managing a project.
Common phrases include '治病' (treat a disease) and '治水' (control water), which refers to managing water resources. These phrases illustrate the versatility of 治 in both health and environmental contexts.
治 (zhì) means to rule, govern, manage, control, or treat. It can refer to both governing a state and managing affairs or situations. In medical contexts, it is used to describe the act of treating diseases.
治 can be used in sentences such as '他治病的技术很好' (His skills in treating illnesses are very good) or '政府需要有效地治国' (The government needs to effectively govern the country). It can be applied in both formal and informal contexts.
You can use 治 to express managing different contexts, like '治病' (zhì bìng) meaning 'to treat an illness'.
No, 治 is typically used in formal or written contexts, so it's better suited for discussions about governance or administration.
An opposite could be '乱' (luàn), which means chaos or disorder, highlighting the contrast between governance and mismanagement.
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