指

• 拼音: zhǐ
• 汉字拆解: 指 = 扌(hand) + 旨 (purpose, meaning)

含义

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.

例句

1. 他指着地图上的一个地方说要去那里旅游。
2. 你说的'那个人'是指谁？
3. 小孩子用手指着天上的飞机。

用法指南

语境: everyday, conversation, explanation

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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)

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal