針 meaning and stroke order
Needle, pin, tack; acupuncture
How to write 針, stroke by stroke
10 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
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- 9
- 10
Meaning of 針
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- needle
- pin
- injection
- stitch
How 針 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A metal 釒 pin 十.
Radical: 釒 (gold), shared by 135 characters on this site.
How to remember 針
On the left is the metal radical 釒, and on the right is 十, which looks like a thin pin with a crosspiece. Picture a small metal pin 十 made of metal 釒, and you have a needle.
針 (zhēn) means a needle or pin, and it also appears in medical words like 打針 (dǎzhēn) for an injection and 針灸 (zhēnjiǔ) for acupuncture. It shows up in abstract words too, such as 針對 (zhēnduì), to target or aim at, and 方針 (fāngzhēn), policy. Example: 我明天要去醫院打針。(Wǒ míngtiān yào qù yīyuàn dǎzhēn.) I have to go to the hospital for an injection tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write the right side as 千 or 干 instead of 十, which makes it a different shape. Also keep the first tone: zhēn, not zhěn as in 枕 (zhěn, pillow).
Common words with 針
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 針對 | zhēnduì | to target; to focus on; to be aimed at or against; in response to | HSK 4 |
| 打針 | dǎzhēn | to give or get an injection | HSK 4 |
| 方針 | fāngzhēn | policy; guidelines | HSK 4 |
| 指南針 | zhǐnánzhēn | compass | HSK 7-9 |
| 針鋒相對 | zhēnfēng-xiāngduì | to oppose each other with equal harshness (idiom); tit for tat; measure for measure | HSK 7-9 |
| 針灸 | zhēnjiǔ | acupuncture and moxibustion; to give or have acupuncture and moxibustion | HSK 7-9 |
| 針頭 | zhēntóu | tip of a needle; syringe needle | |
| 胸針 | xiōngzhēn | brooch | |
| 別針 | biézhēn | pin; safety pin | |
| 指針 | zhǐzhēn | pointer on a gauge; clock hand | |
| 大海撈針 | dàhǎilāozhēn | lit. to fish a needle from the sea; to find a needle in a haystack (idiom) | |
| 針筒 | zhēntǒng | syringe | |
| 縫針 | féngzhēn | to stitch fabric; (medicine) to sew up a wound or incision | |
| 針孔 | zhēnkǒng | pinhole |
Questions about 針
How many strokes are in 針?
針 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 針 mean?
針 (zhēn) means needle, pin, tack; acupuncture. A common word with it is 针对 (zhēnduì), meaning "to target; to focus on; to be aimed at or against; in response to".
How do you pronounce 針?
針 is pronounced zhēn, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 針?
The radical of 針 is 釒, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 針 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 針?
針 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 针, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Why does 針對 (zhēnduì) mean to target?
The image is a needle pointing straight at one spot. So 針對 means to aim something at a specific person, problem, or situation, as in 針對這個問題 (zhēnduì zhège wèntí), regarding this problem.
Can 針 be used as a measure word?
Yes. 針 can count stitches or injections, as in 打了三針 (dǎle sān zhēn), got three shots, or 縫了幾針 (féngle jǐ zhēn), sewed a few stitches.