支
Character learning workspace

zhī · to support, to sustain

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

HSK 2.0 · Level 5Frequency #915
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Learn every stroke in 支

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 支 is constructed

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

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

4Total strokes

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

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

支Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 支 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 支

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

zhīWords pronounced zhī
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Example sentences

Notice where 支 sits in each complete thought.

Yǐ xià shì wǒ mén bù zhī chí tā de kàn fǎ de lǐ yóu.以下是我們不支持他的看法的理由。

The reason why we cannot support his view will be given below.

Source: Tatoeba #431573 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ néng yòng xìn yòng kǎ zhī fù ma?我能用信用卡支付吗?

May I pay with a credit card?

Source: Tatoeba #785910 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ xiǎng yào zhī chí kuài chōng de shǒu jī.我想要支持快充的手機。

I'd like a phone that supports fast charging.

Source: Tatoeba #13190520 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ zhège yuè yào jiǎn shǎo kāi zhī.我这个月要减少开支。

I have to reduce my expenses this month.

Source: Tatoeba #351246 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ zài yòng de nà zhī bǐ shì wǒ de.你在用的那支筆是我的。

That pencil you're writing with is mine.

Source: Tatoeba #13014647 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā gěi le wǒ yì zhī kuài méi shuǐ le de bǐ.他給了我一支快没水了的筆。

He gave me a pen whose ink was almost all used up.

Source: Tatoeba #12387614 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 支 in context

  1. Say zhī, then recall the core meaning: to support, to sustain.
  2. Write all 4 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 支持 (zhī chí), meaning “to be in favor of”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 支 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.