吱
Character learning workspace

zhī / zī · to chirp

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

Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 吱

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

Interactive stroke trainerWatch and inspect
Checking daily allowance…Please waitGo unlimited
Loading strokes…
0 strokes
Choose Watch order or Practice writing
Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

吱 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

zhī

(onom.) creaking or groaning

吱呀zhī yā ·
zī

(onom.) chirp; squeak; creak

吱吱声zī zī shēng · squeak
Step-by-step explorer

See how 吱 is constructed

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

Loading stroke diagrams…

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

7Total strokes

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

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

口Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 吱 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

Preparing worksheet…
Customize

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

Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 吱 sits in each complete thought.

Tā yí xià zǐ jiù bù zhī shēng le.他一下子就不吱声了。

He went quiet suddenly.

Source: Tatoeba #13541026 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Guā fēng de shí hòu, lǎo xiàng shù de yè zǐ huì shā shā zuò xiǎng, shù zhī huì fā chū gāzhī shēng.刮風的時候,老橡樹的葉子會沙沙作響,樹枝會發出嘎吱聲。

When it's windy, the leaves of the old oak rustle and its branches creak.

Source: Tatoeba #13573840 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Lǎo niǎo zhōu jiū, xiǎo niǎo zhī zhī jiào.老鳥啁啾,小鳥吱吱叫。

Old birds sing, young birds twitter.

Source: Tatoeba #728619 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè jié lóu tī zhī zhī xiǎng.這節樓梯吱吱響。

These stairs are creaky.

Source: Tatoeba #13117546 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 吱 in context

  1. Say zhī / zī, then recall the core meaning: to chirp.
  2. Write all 7 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 吱吱声 (zī zī shēng), meaning “squeak”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 吱 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.