Meaning of 针
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- needle
- pin
- injection
- stitch
Measure word: 根,支
- variant of 針|针[zhen1], needle
How to use 针
针 means a needle or pin, and it also covers injections and stitches. It appears in everyday words like 打针 (dǎzhēn, to get a shot) and 指南针 (zhǐnánzhēn, compass), and in more abstract words like 针对 (zhēnduì, to target) and 方针 (fāngzhēn, policy). Example: 我明天要去医院打针。(Wǒ míngtiān yào qù yīyuàn dǎzhēn.) I have to go to the hospital for a shot tomorrow.
针 (zhēn) puts the metal radical 钅 next to 十 (shí). Picture 十 as a thin metal pin stuck through a cloth, with the short crossbar like the eye of a needle.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write the right side as 千 (qiān) instead of 十, adding an extra stroke on top. Others confuse 针 (zhēn) with 真 (zhēn, real) because they sound the same, so check the meaning when you type it.
针 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.
针 zhēn · needle · 7 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 针.
| 针对 | zhēnduì | to target; to focus on; to be aimed at or against; in response to |
| 打针 | dǎzhēn | to give or get an injection |
| 方针 | fāngzhēn | policy; guidelines |
| 指南针 | zhǐnánzhēn | compass |
| 针锋相对 | zhēnfēng-xiāngduì | to oppose each other with equal harshness (idiom); tit for tat; measure for measure |
| 针灸 | zhēnjiǔ | acupuncture and moxibustion; to give or have acupuncture and moxibustion |
| 针头 | zhēntóu | tip of a needle; syringe needle |
| 胸针 | xiōngzhēn | brooch |
| 别针 | biézhēn | pin; safety pin |
| 指针 | zhǐzhēn | pointer on a gauge; clock hand |
| 大海捞针 | dàhǎilāozhēn | lit. to fish a needle from the sea; to find a needle in a haystack (idiom) |
| 针筒 | zhēntǒng | syringe |
Questions about 针
What does 针 mean?
针 (zhēn) means "needle; pin" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 针?
针 is made of 1 character: 针 (7 strokes). That is 7 strokes in total.
Is 针 an HSK word?
Yes. 针 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 针 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 针 is written 針.
Can 针 be used as a measure word?
Yes. It counts stitches or injections, as in 缝了三针 (féng le sān zhēn, got three stitches) or 打了一针 (dǎ le yì zhēn, got one shot).
What does 针对 mean and how is it different from the literal needle?
针对 (zhēnduì) means to aim at or target something, like a needle pointing at one spot. For example, 这个问题是针对你的 (zhège wèntí shì zhēnduì nǐ de) means this question is aimed at you. It has nothing to do with physical needles.