之
Character learning workspace

zhī · marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 4Frequency #160
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Learn every stroke in 之

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 之 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

之
Complete decomposition unavailableThe shape 丶 is indexed inside 之, but it is not the whole character.
Writing notes

Shape and proportion

3Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

丿Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 之 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 之

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

zhīWords pronounced zhī
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Example sentences

Notice where 之 sits in each complete thought.

Tā shì liǎng rén zhī zhōng zuì dà de.他是两人之中最大的。

He is the older of the two.

Source: Tatoeba #688838 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhī hòu wǒ zài yě méi gēn tā shuō guò huà.之后我再也没跟他说过话。

I never spoke to him after that.

Source: Tatoeba #1358451 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ huì zài nà zhī qián jiàn tā.我会在那之前见他。

I'll see him before that.

Source: Tatoeba #5571896 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ shì sān gè rén zhī zhōng zuì gāo de.我是三個人之中最高的。

I am the tallest of the three.

Source: Tatoeba #1270587 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Jì zhù wǒ de jí bié zài nǐ de zhī shàng.记住我的级别在你的之上。

Remember that I outrank you.

Source: Tatoeba #5780596 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā zài wǒ lái dào zhī qián jiù sǐ le.他在我來到之前就死了。

He died previous to my arrival.

Source: Tatoeba #349986 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 之 in context

  1. Say zhī, then recall the core meaning: marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase.
  2. Write all 3 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 之后 (zhī hòu), meaning “after”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 之 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.