Making Chinese characters easy to write.

Sister Sites

Five Elements Test Chinese-Idioms.com

About•Privacy Policy•Terms of Service

DICTIONARY

Chinese Dictionary
Pinyin Index
Radical Index
Character Components
HSK Dictionary
Character Compare

DICTIONARY

Chinese Dictionary
Pinyin Index
Radical Index
Character Components
HSK Dictionary
Character Compare

TOOLS

Worksheet Generator
Worksheet Library
Writing Practice
Pinyin Converter
Chinese Name Generator
Zodiac Calculator
HSK Level Checker
Flashcards
Dictation Practice

TOOLS

Worksheet Generator
Worksheet Library
Writing Practice
Pinyin Converter
Chinese Name Generator
Zodiac Calculator
HSK Level Checker
Flashcards
Dictation Practice

LEARN

Learning Center
Blog
Chinese Stroke Rules
Chinese Poetry
Pro Membership ✨

LEARN

Learning Center
Blog
Chinese Stroke Rules
Chinese Poetry
Pro Membership ✨

© 2026 Hanzi Stroke. All rights reserved.

Made with♥for Chinese learners.

支 (zhī): Stroke Order, Meaning & How to Write | HSK 5

By CharacterBrowse all characters A-Z

HSK ListsAll HSK versions overview

HSK 2.0

Learn & Practice

Worksheet Generator

Learning Essentials

Home
Dictionary
支

支 (zhī): Branch — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

HSK 2.0Level 5

By PinyinSearch by pronunciation

By RadicalFind by radical component

By ComponentsLearn meaning and sound clues

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6

HSK 3.0

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7-9

Create practice sheets for free

Worksheet LibraryHSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs

Writing PracticePractice HSK and saved words

Dictation PracticeListen and write HSK characters

Flashcard ReviewSRS review for HSK and custom decks

HSK Level CheckerCheck HSK level of any text

Pinyin ConverterConvert Chinese to Pinyin

My Learning

Learning DashboardTrack your writing progress

My VocabularyReview saved words and lists

Fun & Culture

Name GeneratorCreate your Chinese name

8 Basic Strokes GuideHot

Foundation of all characters

Pinyin Tones Guide

4 tones with audio examples

Chinese Handwriting Guide

Daily practice routine

HSK 3.0 Complete GuideNew

New exam format explained

HSK 1 Common Mistakes

Avoid beginner errors

Topics & Culture

Chinese Numbers 1-1000

Count like a native

Time & Dates Guide

Tell time in Chinese

Family Members Guide

30+ family terms

2026 Fire Horse YearHot

Zodiac meaning & luck

Top 100 Characters

Most frequent, free PDF

View All Blog Posts

HSK 3.0Level 5

HSK 3.0:Recognition 4Writing 4

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Vocab 5 Recognition 4 Writing 4

1.

Animated Stroke Order 支

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

How to write 支 — animated stroke order

74 learners practiced this

2.

Readings & Meanings

支has 2 distinct senses for the same pronunciation

zhī

branch; the twelve Earthly Branches

measure wordHSK 5 HSK 3.0 · L5

to support; to pay; to disburse

verbHSK 3.0 · L6

3.

Stroke Order Diagrams 支

支 stroke order diagram

4.

Character Breakdown

Top-Bottom

支

支=

5.

Printable Writing Worksheet: 支

支 handwriting practice worksheet preview

Download full HSK 3.0 Level 5 PDF pack

6.

How to Use 支

Support and prop up

In support words, 支 (zhī) means to hold up or assist.

支持 • zhī chí • to be in favour of • HSK 4

HSK 4

7.

HSK Vocabulary: 支

支票 • zhī piào • check/cheque

HSK 5

zhī支

piào

8.

Example Sentences

tā他

zhī支

wu吾

le了

bàn半

tiān天

yě

Information

Pinyinzhī

Meaningbranch; the twelve Earthly Branches

Strokes4

Radical支

Traditional支

StructureTop-Bottom

Frequency#861

Zhuyinㄓ

UnicodeU+652F

CangjieJE

Zodiac CalculatorFind your zodiac animal

十ten

A hand (又) holding a bamboo branch (十) — to support or branch out.

zhī支

chí持

to be in favour of

支援 • zhī yuán • support; assist; aid • HSK 6

HSK 6

zhī支

yuán援

support; assist; aid

支撑 • zhī chēng • prop up; sustain; support • HSK 6

HSK 6

zhī支

chēng撑

prop up; sustain; support

支柱 • zhī zhù • pillar; support; prop • HSK 6

HSK 6

zhī支

zhù柱

pillar; support; prop

Money and payment

In financial words, 支 (zhī) refers to paying or spending money.

支付 • zhī fù • to pay (money) • HSK 3.0 · L4

HSK 3.0 · L4

zhī支

fù付

to pay (money)

支出 • zhī chū • pay; disburse; expenses • HSK 6

HSK 6

zhī支

chū出

pay; disburse; expenses

开支 • kāi zhī • pay; spend; expenditure • HSK 6

HSK 6

kāi开

zhī支

pay; spend; expenditure

收支 • shōu zhī • Income and expenditure • HSK 3.0 · L7-9

HSK 3.0 · L7-9

shōu收

zhī支

Income and expenditure

Branch and division

In division words, 支 (zhī) indicates a branch or offshoot.

分支 • fēn zhī • Branch • HSK 3.0 · L7-9

HSK 3.0 · L7-9

fēn分

zhī支

Branch

支流 • zhī liú • tributary; effluent • HSK 6

HSK 6

zhī支

liú流

tributary; effluent

票

check/cheque

支配 • zhī pèi • allocate; budget

HSK 6

zhī支

pèi配

allocate; budget

支架 • zhī jià • bracket / support

HSK 3.0 · L7-9

zhī支

jià架

bracket / support

透支 • tòu zhī • Overdraft

HSK 3.0 · L7-9

tòu透

zhī支

Overdraft

也

méi没

shuō说

qīng清

chu楚

。

He equivocated for a long time and still didn't explain clearly.

wǒ我

zhī支

chí持

nǐ你

de的

jué决

dìng定

。

I support your decision.

wǒ我

měi每

yuè月

de的

shōu收

zhī支

yào要

píng平

héng衡

。

My monthly income and expenses should be balanced.

qǐng请

yòng用

shǒu手

jī机

zhī支

fù付

。

Please pay with your phone.

Qǐng请

gěi给

wǒ我

yì一

zhī支

bǐ笔

。

Please give me one pen.

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

HSK Level 5

Characters from the same exam level.

匹pǐ[measure word for horses and cloth]
片piàn[flat, thin piece of]; slice; flake
飘piāowave to and fro; float; flutter
平píngflat; level; even; equal
凭pínglean on; depend on; evidence
签qiānto sign

View all HSK 5 characters →

Same Sound

Characters pronounced "zhi".

芷zhiangelica (a fragrant herb)
炙zhìroast, broil; toast; cauterize
吱zhīchirping, squeaking, hissing
趾zhǐtoe; tracks, footprints
咫zhǐfoot measure of Zhou dynasty
痔zhìhemorrhoids, piles

View all "zhi" characters →