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指向 (zhǐ xiàng) — to point towards, to aim at; the direction indicated, orientation

Definition

指向 covers both a literal gesture ('point toward') and a figurative aim ('be oriented toward'). Contrast with 针对, which targets a specific audience or issue, and 导向, which emphasizes a guiding direction rather than a simple orientation.

to point towardsto aim atthe direction indicatedorientation

Examples

  • 。
    Tā yòng shǒu zhǐ xiàng chuāng wài de nà kē shù.
    He pointed with his hand at the tree outside the window.
  • 指向。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng zhǐ xiàng le wèn tí de yuán yīn.
    His speech pointed to the root cause of the problem.
  • 指向。
    Guǎng gào de zhǐ xiàng shì nián qīng rén.
    The ad's orientation is toward young people.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

指zhǐpoint
向xiàngdirection

指 points and 向 is the direction, giving the sense of pointing toward it.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
旨
旨zhǐ指zhǐ
Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.

Open 指 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

Open 向 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Directions

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