指

• Pinyin: zhǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 指 = 扌(hand) + 旨 (purpose, meaning)

Meaning

Point at; refer to; finger. As a verb, means to point at something or to refer to something. As a noun, means finger.

Has multiple uses: (1) Physically pointing at something with a finger. (2) Abstractly referring to or indicating something. (3) As a noun, short for 手指 (finger). Common in compounds like 指出 (point out), 指导 (guide), and 指向 (point toward). The noun use for 'finger' is more literary; 手指 is more common in everyday speech.

Examples

1. 他指着地图上的一个地方说要去那里旅游。 He pointed at a place on the map and said he wanted to travel there.
2. 你说的'那个人'是指谁？ Who are you referring to by 'that person'?
3. 小孩子用手指着天上的飞机。 The child pointed at the airplane in the sky.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation, explanation

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请问你指的是哪一个？(May I ask, which one are you referring to?)
• 别用手指着别人。(Don't point at other people with your finger.)

Don't Say

• 他指我去商店。(Don't use 指 to mean 'directed me to go' — use 让 or 叫 for asking someone to do something; 指 means physically pointing or abstractly referring)

Origin & History

Originally 旨 (purpose) + 扌(hand radical). Depicts a hand pointing at something to indicate a purpose or direction.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal