ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY
指
finger; to point
zhǐ
9 strokes · 扌 (hand) + 旨 (purpose, sound) · HSK 3
Where 指 comes from
The hand's 扌 pointing part — the finger. To extend it is to point, and pointing at something is meaning it: refer to, indicate, direct.
指 in Chinese culture
手指 finger, 指出 point out, 指导 guide. A 指南针 'south-pointing needle' is the compass — one of China's four great inventions, named for where the needle points.
Example
手指 shǒuzhǐ — finger
老师指出了我的错误。
Lǎoshī zhǐchū le wǒ de cuòwù.
The teacher pointed out my mistake.
How to remember it
The HAND's pointer — FINGER points, and pointing MEANS.
Chinese compasses point south by convention (指南), not north — same needle, opposite naming.
Same sound, different tones
Words unlocked by 指
手指 shǒuzhǐ
finger
指南针 zhǐnánzhēn
compass
Related characters
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