指
Character learning workspace

zhǐ · finger, toe

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

HSK 2.0 · Level 4HSK 3.0 · Level 4Frequency #639
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 指

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 指 is constructed

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

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

9Total 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.

扌Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 指 writing sheet

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

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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 指

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

zhǐWords pronounced zhǐ
zhiWords pronounced zhi
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 指 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ huì zhǎo dào nǐ diū shī de jiè zhǐ.我会找到你丢失的戒指。

I will find you your lost ring.

Source: Tatoeba #8612474 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bù néng yòng shǒu zhǐ rén.不能用手指人。

Don't point at others.

Source: Tatoeba #2031307 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā zài zhǐ dìng shí jiān de wǔ fēn zhōng hòu dào le.他在指定时间的五分钟后到了。

He arrived five minutes after the specified time.

Source: Tatoeba #817320 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ gēn suí tā de zhǐ shì zuò jiù xíng le.你跟隨他的指示做就行了。

All you have to do is follow his advice.

Source: Tatoeba #348938 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā zhǐ zé wǒ bù zǎo diǎn xiě xìn gěi tā.她指责我不早点写信给她。

She accused me of not writing to her sooner.

Source: Tatoeba #9958579 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Qǐng nǐ gěi wǒ zhǐ diǎn yí xià.请你给我指点一下。

Can you show me the way please?

Source: Tatoeba #391093 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 指 in context

  1. Say zhǐ, then recall the core meaning: finger, toe.
  2. Write all 9 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 指出 (zhǐ chū), meaning “to indicate”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 指 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.