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针 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
针
zhēn
needle
HSK 6, p, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #2513, Hard
针
zhēn
pin
HSK 6, p, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #2513, Hard
针
zhēn
injection
HSK 6, p, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #2513, Hard
针
zhēn
stitch
HSK 6, p, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #2513, Hard
针
zhēn
needle, pin, tack; acupuncture
HSK 6, p, 7 strokes, radical 钅, rank #2513, Hard
zhēn(zhen1)zhen T1
1needle
2pin
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March 24, 2026
针(針)zhēn(zhen1)
The character 针 (zhēn) refers to a needle or pin, commonly used in sewing, acupuncture, and medical injections. It conveys the concept of precision and piercing, often associated with tools or instruments that create small punctures in materials or skin.
Strokes7Radical钅Frequency#2513DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, 针 plays a crucial role in acupuncture, a practice that dates back thousands of years and is integral to holistic health approaches in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a sharp needle (针) that resembles a straight line piercing through fabric. The character's form includes the metal radical (钅), suggesting its material, and 'zhēn' sounds like 'zen,' invoking a focused state of mind needed when using a needle carefully.
Meanings of 针
zhēn(zhen1)
1needle
2pin
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 针
针Simplified
針Traditional
7Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2513Frequency Rank
根Measure Word
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 针
Podcast: 针
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AI study notes for 针
Quick Contrast
针 (needle) vs 线 (thread) — choose 针 when referring to the instrument for piercing, while 线 refers to the material that is sewn or threaded.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with tones; 'zhēn' (针) has a high-level tone that must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with other words. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in medical or crafting discussions, such as '针灸' (acupuncture).
HSK Study Tips
Although 针 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it connects with other HSK vocabulary related to health and tools. Students should focus on understanding how this word can be combined with verbs like '用' (to use) and '打' (to inject) to form common phrases.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 针 (zhēn) with 真 (zhēn), leading to misunderstandings in context. For example, saying '我需要真' instead of '我需要针' when requesting a needle is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我需要针' (I need a needle).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 针
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Knowing 针 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 针 (zhēn) refers to a needle or pin, commonly used in sewing, acupuncture, and medical injections. It conveys the concept of precision and piercing, often associated with tools or instruments that create small punctures in materials or skin.
When to use 针
Be cautious with tones; 'zhēn' (针) has a high-level tone that must be pronounced correctly to avoid confusion with other words. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in medical or crafting discussions, such as '针灸' (acupuncture).
针 or something close to it
针 (needle) vs 线 (thread) — choose 针 when referring to the instrument for piercing, while 线 refers to the material that is sewn or threaded.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 针 (zhēn) with 真 (zhēn), leading to misunderstandings in context. For example, saying '我需要真' instead of '我需要针' when requesting a needle is incorrect; the correct phrase is '我需要针' (I need a needle).
Write 针
针
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Practice writing 针 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 针
针 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.
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Cultural Notes for 针
💡Did you know?
In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is a practice that uses 针 (needles) to stimulate specific points on the body. This practice dates back thousands of years and is believed to balance the body's energy, or 'qi'.
Word Family of 针
Words containing this character20
针对zhēnduìto target針對
针zhēnpin針
方针fāngzhēnpolicy方針
针对性zhēnduìxìngfocus針對性
打针dǎzhēnto give or have an injection打針
针织zhēnzhīknitting針織
针灸zhēnjiǔacupuncture and moxibustion針灸
别针biézhēnpin別針
指南针zhǐnánzhēncompass指南針
针刺zhēncìto prick with a needle針刺
指针zhǐzhēnclock hand指針
针锋相对zhēnfēngxiāngduìmeasure for measure針鋒相對
探针tànzhēnprobe探針
针孔zhēnkǒngpinhole針孔
一针见血yìzhēn-jiànxiěfig. to hit the nail on the head一針見血
大海捞针dàhǎilāozhēnlit. to fish a needle from the sea大海撈針
时针shízhēnhour hand時針
针剂zhēnjìfluid loaded into a syringe for a hypodermic injection針劑
预防针yùfángzhēnheads-up預防針
针线zhēnxiànneedlework針線
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 针
What does 针对 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 针
Some common phrases that include 针 (zhēn) are '针线' (zhēnxiàn), which means 'needle and thread,' and '针灸' (zhēnjiǔ), meaning 'acupuncture.' These phrases illustrate the various contexts in which the character is used.
Yes, 针 (zhēn) is often used in medical terminology, particularly in the context of injections or sutures. For instance, '打针' (dǎ zhēn) means 'to get an injection,' which is a common phrase in hospitals or clinics.
针 (zhēn) primarily means 'needle' or 'pin' in Chinese. It can also refer to injections or stitches in a medical context. The character is commonly used in various phrases related to sewing, medicine, and even metaphorically to describe something sharp or pointed.
You can use 针 (zhēn) in sentences like: '我需要一根针来缝这个衣服,' which means 'I need a needle to sew this clothes.' It's also used in contexts like '打针' (dǎ zhēn), meaning 'to get an injection.'
Common phrases include '针灸' (zhēnjiǔ - acupuncture) and '打针' (dǎzhēn - to get an injection).
Focus on the tone; 针 (zhēn) has a high-level tone, while other similar words may have different tones, such as 真 (zhēn - real).
Yes, while commonly associated with medical injections, 针 is also used in sewing and crafting contexts.
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