Definition
指 (zhǐ) is a versatile verb meaning 'to point at' or 'to count on'. For 'point out', use 指出 (zhǐ chū) when specifying a location or fact; 指 alone often needs a directional complement like 着 or 给. For 'count on', 指望 (zhǐ wàng) is more specific and emphasizes hope for the future.
verb
to point atto indicateto showto rely onto count on
Easily confused
- 抡lūnlook-aliketo swing (arms, a heavy object) with force; to brandish
- 只zhǐsound-alike(classifier) used for one of a pair of animals, objects, or body parts; also for boats, certain containers
- 只zhǐsound-alikeonly, just, merely
- 之zhīsound-alike(literary, possessive particle) equivalent to 的
- 之zhīsound-alike(literary pronoun) him, her, it (used as object)
- 支zhīsound-alikeclassifier for long, thin objects (pens, guns), army divisions, and songs/compositions
- 支zhīsound-aliketo prop up, to support
- 直zhísound-alike(adjective) straight; frank; fair
- 至zhìsound-alike(verb, literary) to arrive
- 值zhísound-alike(verb) to be worth
Examples
- ：“，？”Tā zhǐ zhe chuāng wài shuō: “Kàn, nà shì shénme?”He pointed outside the window and said, 'Look, what's that?'
- Míngtiān de bǐsài jiù zhǐwàng nǐ leTomorrow's game is counting on you.
- 指指Qǐng gěi wǒ zhǐzhǐ dìtú shàng de BěijīngPlease point out Beijing on the map for me.
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