指 (zhǐ) — to point at, to indicate, to show; to rely on, to count on
Definition
指 (zhǐ) is the bare verb 'to point at' or 'to count on', depending on context. 指出 adds 'out' (to point something out); 指望 means specifically to rely on someone with hope.
verb
to point atto indicateto showto rely onto count on
Examples
- ：“，？”Tā zhǐ zhe chuāng wài shuō: "kàn, nà shì shén me?"He pointed outside the window and said, 'Look, what's that?'
- Míng tiān de bǐ sài jiù zhǐ wàng nǐ leTomorrow's game is counting on you.
- 指指Qǐng gěi wǒ zhǐ zhǐ dì tú shàng de běi jīngPlease point out Beijing on the map for me.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.
Appears in
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