智 meaning and stroke order
Wisdom, knowledge, intelligence
How to write 智, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 智
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (literary) wise; wisdom
How 智 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Known 知 clearly 日; 知 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 日 (sun), shared by 116 characters on this site.
How to remember 智
智 (zhì) is 知 (zhī, to know) sitting on top of 日 (rì, sun). Knowing something so clearly that it is lit up by the sun is wisdom.
智 rarely appears alone in modern speech. It mostly shows up in compounds like 智慧 (zhìhuì), 智能 (zhìnéng) and 人工智能 (réngōng-zhìnéng). Example: 这是一个明智的决定。(Zhè shì yí ge míngzhì de juédìng.) This is a wise decision.
Common mistake: Learners often write 知 (zhī) when they mean 智 (zhì), since the two look alike and sound alike. 知 means to know and has a first tone. 智 adds 日 underneath and has a fourth tone.
Common words with 智
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 智力 | zhìlì | intelligence; intellect | HSK 4 |
| 智能 | zhìnéng | intelligent; able | HSK 4 |
| 智慧 | zhìhuì | wisdom; intelligence | HSK 6 |
| 理智 | lǐzhì | reason; intellect | HSK 6 |
| 明智 | míngzhì | sensible; wise | HSK 7-9 |
| 智商 | zhìshāng | IQ (intelligence quotient) | HSK 7-9 |
| 人工智能 | réngōng-zhìnéng | artificial intelligence (AI) | HSK 7-9 |
| 机智 | jīzhì | quick-witted; resourceful | HSK 7-9 |
| 足智多谋 | zúzhì-duōmóu | resourceful; full of stratagems | HSK 7-9 |
| 见仁见智 | jiànrén-jiànzhì | opinions differ (idiom) | HSK 7-9 |
| 弱智 | ruòzhì | weak-minded; mentally deficient | |
| 智障 | zhìzhàng | learning difficulties (handicap); retarded | |
| 心智 | xīnzhì | mind; mental faculties | |
| 智者 | zhìzhě | sage; wise man |
智 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 智
How many strokes are in 智?
智 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 智 mean?
智 (zhì) means wisdom, knowledge, intelligence. A common word with it is 智力 (zhìlì), meaning "intelligence; intellect".
How do you pronounce 智?
智 is pronounced zhì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 智?
The radical of 智 is 日, which carries the idea of "sun". Dictionaries list 智 under this radical.
Is 智 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 智 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 智慧 and 聪明?
聪明 (cōngming) describes being smart or quick to learn, and it is common in everyday talk. 智慧 (zhìhuì) is deeper wisdom or insight. It sounds more formal and is often used as a noun.
How do you say smartphone with 智?
A smartphone is 智能手机 (zhìnéng shǒujī). Here 智能 means smart or intelligent, the same word used in 人工智能 for AI.