Meaning of 手指
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- finger
Measure word: 個|个,隻|只
How to use 手指
手指 is the everyday word for finger, and it is often counted with 根 (gēn). Example: 我的手指很冷。(Wǒ de shǒuzhǐ hěn lěng.) My fingers are cold.
手 (shǒu) is the hand and 指 (zhǐ) means to point, so 手指 is the part of your hand you point with. Notice that 指 itself has the hand radical 扌 on the left, a hand inside a hand word.
Common mistake: Learners often write 指 as 脂 (zhī, fat) or 旨 (zhǐ) because they share the same right side; remember that finger needs the hand radical 扌. Also, 指 alone is usually a verb meaning to point, so say 手指 rather than just 指 when you mean the noun finger.
手指 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
手 shǒu · hand · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
指 zhǐ · finger · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Related words
Words that share a character with 手指.
| 手机 | shǒujī | cell phone; mobile phone |
| 洗手间 | xǐshǒujiān | toilet; lavatory |
| 手表 | shǒubiǎo | wristwatch |
| 举手 | jǔshǒu | to raise a hand; to put up one's hand (as signal) |
| 对手 | duìshǒu | opponent; rival |
| 选手 | xuǎnshǒu | athlete; contestant |
| 歌手 | gēshǒu | singer |
| 指导 | zhǐdǎo | to guide; to direct; to instruct; coach; trainer |
| 指出 | zhǐchū | to indicate; to point out |
| 握手 | wòshǒu | to shake hands |
| 手续 | shǒuxù | procedure; formalities |
| 分手 | fēnshǒu | to part company; to split up |
Questions about 手指
What does 手指 mean?
手指 (shǒuzhǐ) means "finger" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 手指?
手指 is made of 2 characters: 手 (4 strokes), 指 (9 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 手指 an HSK word?
Yes. 手指 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say toe in Chinese?
Toe is 脚趾 (jiǎozhǐ) or, more casually, 脚指头 (jiǎozhǐtou). Note that it uses 趾 with the foot radical, not 指.
What is the difference between 手指 and 手指头?
Both mean finger. 手指头 (shǒuzhǐtou) is more colloquial and common in speech, while 手指 works in both speech and writing.