支 meaning and stroke order
To support; to sustain; to erect
How to write 支, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 支
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to support
- to sustain
- to erect
- to raise
- branch
- division
How 支 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A hand 又 holding a branch 十 for support.
How to remember 支
The top part 十 looks like a small branch, and the bottom part 又 is a hand. A hand holding up a branch gives you the idea of propping something up, so 支 (zhī) means to support.
支 appears mostly in compound words about support and money, such as 支持 (zhīchí, to support) and 支付 (zhīfù, to pay). It is also a measure word for long thin things like pens and for teams or songs. Example: 我支持你的决定。(Wǒ zhīchí nǐ de juédìng.) I support your decision.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 支 with 枝 (zhī, branch of a tree), which has the same sound but adds the wood radical 木. Use 树枝 (shùzhī) for a tree branch, not 树支.
Common words with 支
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 支持 | zhīchí | to be in favor of; to support | HSK 3 |
| 支付 | zhīfù | to pay (money) | HSK 3 |
| 支配 | zhīpèi | to control; to dominate | HSK 5 |
| 支出 | zhīchū | to spend; to pay out; expenses; expenditure | HSK 5 |
| 支援 | zhīyuán | to provide assistance; to support | HSK 6 |
| 支撑 | zhīchēng | to prop up; to support | HSK 6 |
| 支票 | zhīpiào | check (bank); cheque | HSK 7-9 |
| 开支 | kāizhī | expenditures; expenses (CL:筆|笔[bi3],項|项[xiang4]); to spend money | HSK 7-9 |
| 支柱 | zhīzhù | mainstay; pillar | HSK 7-9 |
| 分支 | fēnzhī | branch (of company, river etc); to branch | HSK 7-9 |
| 透支 | tòuzhī | (banking) to overdraw; to take out an overdraft | HSK 7-9 |
| 收支 | shōuzhī | cash flow; financial balance | HSK 7-9 |
| 枪支 | qiāngzhī | a gun; guns in general | |
| 支持者 | zhīchízhě | supporter |
支 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 支
Learning 支 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 支
How many strokes are in 支?
支 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 支 mean?
支 (zhī) means to support; to sustain; to erect. A common word with it is 支持 (zhīchí), meaning "to be in favor of; to support".
How do you pronounce 支?
支 is pronounced zhī, in the first tone (high and level).
Is 支 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 支 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
How is 支 used as a measure word?
支 counts long, thin objects like pens and cigarettes, as in 一支笔 (yì zhī bǐ, one pen). It also counts songs, teams and troops, as in 一支球队 (yì zhī qiúduì, a sports team).
What is the difference between 支出 and 开支?
Both mean spending or expenses. 支出 (zhīchū) often appears in accounting and budgets as the opposite of 收入 (shōurù, income). 开支 (kāizhī) is common in everyday talk about household or company costs, as in 减少开支 (jiǎnshǎo kāizhī, cut expenses).