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支 (zhī) — classifier for long, thin objects (pens, guns), army divisions, and songs/compositions

Definition

支 (zhī) is a classifier for long thin things (pens, guns) and for songs or army divisions. Note 支 also means 'to support' as a verb, which is a separate sense.

classifier
classifier for longthin objects (pens, guns)army divisionsand songs/compositions
Easily confused

Examples

  • 支。
    Wǒ mǎi le yì zhī xīn bǐ.
    I bought a new pen.
  • 支。
    Nà zhī gē hěn hǎo tīng.
    That song sounds very nice.
  • 支。
    Zhè zhī jūn duì zhèng zài xùn liàn.
    This army division is training.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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

支 pairs 又 (hand) with 十, a shortened form of 竹 (bamboo), to picture a bamboo branch.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 51000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsMeasure Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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