指

zhǐ

扌 + 旨

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

zhǐ (verb) to point at; to indicate

zhǐ (noun) finger

zhǐ (verb) to refer to

zhǐ (verb) to depend on; to count on

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 旨 represents the sound.

About

指 is a phono-semantic compound: the hand radical 扌 (shǒu) gives the meaning, while 旨 (zhǐ) supplies the sound. Its original sense is a finger or toe. Because fingers are used to single things out, it naturally developed verb meanings such as to point, indicate, refer, and guide.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的手指很长。

Tā de shǒuzhǐ hěn cháng.

His fingers are very long.

请按照指示操作。

Qǐng ànzhào zhǐshì cāozuò.

Please operate according to the instructions.

老师指导我们学习。

Lǎoshī zhǐdǎo wǒmen xuéxí.

The teacher guides us in our studies.

他指出了我的错误。

Tā zhǐchūle wǒ de cuòwù.

He pointed out my mistake.

会议指定在明天举行。

Huìyì zhǐdìng zài míngtiān jǔxíng.

The meeting is specified to be held tomorrow.

他不应该指责别人。

Tā bù yīnggāi zhǐzé biérén.

He should not blame others.

将军指挥士兵们战斗。

Jiāngjūn zhǐhuī shìbīngmen zhàndòu.

The general commanded the soldiers to fight.

公司完成了年度经济指标。

Gōngsī wánchéngle niándù jīngjì zhǐbiāo.

The company completed the annual economic targets.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

Component: 旨

指