直
Character learning workspace

zhí · straight, vertical

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

HSK 2.0 · Level 5HSK 3.0 · Level 5Frequency #1420
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 直

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 直 is constructed

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

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

8Total strokes

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

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

目Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 直 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 直

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

zhíWords pronounced zhí
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 直 sits in each complete thought.

Nǐ jiù shì wǒ yì zhí yào zhǎo de rén.你就是我一直要找的人。

You are the man I've been looking for.

Source: Tatoeba #796779 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ xiǎng nǐ dài zài zhè lǐ zhí dào wǒ huí lái.我想你待在这里直到我回来。

I want you to stay here until I get back.

Source: Tatoeba #784114 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zhí jiē dào tā nà lǐ qù.我直接到他那里去。

I went to his place straight away.

Source: Tatoeba #446299 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè běn shū shì bu shì tā yì zhí yòng de?这本书是不是他一直用的?

Is this book the one he always uses?

Source: Tatoeba #397335 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bù, yì zhí shì wǒ zài yòng.不,一直是我在用。

No, I am always using it.

Source: Tatoeba #397340 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ hái shì yì zhí xiǎng zhe tā.我还是一直想着他。

I still think about him all the time.

Source: Tatoeba #5555685 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 直 in context

  1. Say zhí, then recall the core meaning: straight, vertical.
  2. Write all 8 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 一直 (yì zhí), meaning “straight”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 直 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.