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指着 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
指着zhǐzhepoint atHSK 6, unknown, 20 strokes, Hard
zhǐzhe(zhi3 zhe5)
  1. 1point at
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March 24, 2026

指着zhǐzhe(zhi3 zhe5)

指着 (zhǐzhe) means 'to point at' or 'to indicate.' It is commonly used when someone is showing something to another person or directing attention towards an object or person. This verb emphasizes the action of pointing or indicating something specifically.

Strokes20DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, pointing is a common way to communicate non-verbally, especially in crowded places where verbal communication may be difficult. Pointing is often used in educational settings to guide students' attention.

Memory Tip

Imagine a teacher pointing at a map to show students where a city is located. The character 指 (zhǐ) looks like a finger pointing, and 着 (zhe) can remind you of a person who is actively engaging with what they are pointing at.

Meanings of 指着

zhǐzhe(zhi3 zhe5)
1point at
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About 指着

指着Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 指着

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Podcast: 指着

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AI Study Notes for 指着

Quick Contrast

指示 (zhǐshì) - use 指着 for the physical action of pointing, while 指示 refers to the act of indicating or instructing more generally.

Usage Notes

指着 is typically used in informal contexts when describing the action of pointing. A common mistake is to confuse it with 指 (zhǐ), which means 'to point' but does not include the continuous aspect that 着 (zhe) provides. Remember to use the correct tone when pronouncing zhe to avoid confusion.

HSK Study Tips

This word is not at a specific HSK level but is useful for learners around HSK 3-4. Focus on practicing the action of pointing and use it in sentences that describe showing or indicating things, as this is a common conversational scenario.

Common Mistakes

Learners often forget to include 着 when using 指, leading to phrases like '我指他' instead of '我指着他,' which changes the meaning to an incomplete action. Always use 指着 to indicate ongoing action.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 指着

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Component Characters

指zhǐfinger
HSK 49 strokes扌
View full entry
着zheaspect particle indicating action in progress
HSK 211 strokes目
View full entry

How to say point at in Chinese

“point at” in Chinese is指着zhǐzhe

指着 (zhǐzhe) means 'to point at' or 'to indicate.' It is commonly used when someone is showing something to another person or directing attention towards an object or person. This verb emphasizes the action of pointing or indicating something specifically.

When to use 指着

指着 is typically used in informal contexts when describing the action of pointing. A common mistake is to confuse it with 指 (zhǐ), which means 'to point' but does not include the continuous aspect that 着 (zhe) provides. Remember to use the correct tone when pronouncing zhe to avoid confusion.

指着 or something close to it

指示 (zhǐshì) - use 指着 for the physical action of pointing, while 指示 refers to the act of indicating or instructing more generally.

What learners get wrong

Learners often forget to include 着 when using 指, leading to phrases like '我指他' instead of '我指着他,' which changes the meaning to an incomplete action. Always use 指着 to indicate ongoing action.

Write 指着

指
着

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

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Cultural Notes for 指着

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, pointing can sometimes be considered rude, whereas in Chinese culture, it is often seen as a practical way to communicate clearly.

Frequently Asked Questions about 指着

You can say, '他指着地图解释路线,' which means 'He pointed at the map to explain the route.'

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