针
Character learning workspace

zhēn · needle, pin, tack

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

HSK 3.0 · Level 6Frequency #2990
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 针

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 针 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.

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.

钅Key radical

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

Print and practise

Download a 针 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 针

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

Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 针 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ men yīnggāi jìn zhǐ zhēn duì ér tóng de guǎng gào.我们应该禁止针对儿童的广告。

We should ban advertising aimed towards children.

Source: Tatoeba #5698044 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhǐ nán zhēn de zhǐ zhēn zhǐ xiàng běi biān.指南针的指针指向北边。

Compass needles point to the north.

Source: Tatoeba #3470141 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shàn cháng zhēn xiàn huó.她擅长针线活。

She is handy with a needle.

Source: Tatoeba #12686976 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tāng mǔ bú huì shǐ yòng zhǐ nán zhēn.汤姆不会使用指南针。

Tom doesn't know how to use a compass.

Source: Tatoeba #12333049 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhǐ nán zhēn zhǐ xiàng běi biān.指南针指向北边。

The compass points to the north.

Source: Tatoeba #3470101 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ dé gěi nǐ dǎ yì zhēn.我得给你打一针。

I need to give you an injection.

Source: Tatoeba #10699366 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 针 in context

  1. Say zhēn, then recall the core meaning: needle, pin, tack.
  2. Write all 7 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 打针 (dǎ zhēn), meaning “to give or get an injection”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 针 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.