指 zhǐ — finger; point; indicate · English

指

zhǐ

finger; point; indicate

At a glance · 指

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从手（扌），旨声，本义为手指。隶楷沿用，结构稳定，甲骨金文未见独立确形。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为手指，引申为指向、指示。

Structure

形声字，从手（意符，手），旨（zhǐ）为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinzhǐ

Radical扌

Strokes9

UnicodeU+6307

Character type形声

Theme人体

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English finger; point; indicate A finger; to point at or indicate.

Français doigt; montrer; indiquer Doigt ; montrer ou indiquer.

Español dedo; señalar; indicar Dedo ; señalar o indicar.

العربية إصبع؛ يشير؛ يدل إصبع؛ أن يشير أو يدل.

Русский палец; указывать Палец; указывать или означать.

Common words

手指shǒu zhǐfinger
指zhǐfinger

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