支 Stroke Order — How to Write 支
支 is written in 4 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 支, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
支 Radical and Character Components
支 is an ideographic compound. A hand 又 holding a branch 十 for support.
Radical: 支 + 0 more strokes
支 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- zhī
Meanings of 支 in Chinese
1
zhī支
To support, to prop up, to hold up, to extend, to stick out.
在困难时期，大家更应该相互支持。
During difficult times, everyone should support each other even more.
To bear or sustain; often used in expressions like '乐不可支' (overcome with joy) or '笑不可支' (overcome with laughter), indicating an inability to contain a strong emotion.
小丑的表演实在太有趣了，孩子们都笑不可支
The clown's performance was so funny that all the children were overcome with laughter.
to pay; to disburse (money)
请您支付这笔款项。
Please pay this amount.
to direct, to command, or to dispatch (someone to do something); to manage or cope with.
他总是喜欢支使别人做事，自己却偷懒。
He always likes to order others around to do things, but he himself is lazy.
A part belonging to a larger whole; a branch or tributary.
这条大河有许多支流，它们滋养着广阔的土地。
This large river has many tributaries, which nourish a vast expanse of land.
One of the twelve Earthly Branches (地支), a system of characters used in the traditional Chinese calendar and astrology to denote time periods, directions, and as part of the sixty-year cycle.
十二地支中的每一支都代表一个特定的时间周期或生肖。
Each of the twelve Earthly Branches represents a specific time period or zodiac animal.
Measure word for long, thin, or stick-like objects, such as pens, pencils, or candles.
我需要一支笔来写字。
I need a pen to write.
Common Words and Phrases with 支
1
to assist in the development of border areas
许多大学生毕业后选择支边，将所学知识带到需要帮助的地区。
Many university students choose to go to remote regions to provide support after graduation, bringing their learned knowledge to areas in need.
2
a branch or a basic-level organization of a political party or group
这个摄影俱乐部的支部每月举行一次会议。
The branch of this photography club holds a meeting once a month.
3
To dispatch or assign someone to a task, historically often referring to the performance of corvée labor or other forms of forced service.
小李刚到公司，每天除了本职工作，还要负责支差一些跑腿的杂务。
When Xiao Li first joined the company, besides his main work, he also had to handle various errands and odd jobs.
4
To support or sustain something, preventing its collapse; also, to resist.
这几根钢筋支撑着整个结构，使其保持稳定。
These steel bars support the entire structure, keeping it stable.
5
to support; to bear (a load/weight)
这根柱子主要用来支承屋顶的重量。
This column is mainly used to support the weight of the roof.
6
to support, assist, or endorse
我完全支持你的决定，相信你一定能成功。
I fully support your decision, and I believe you will definitely succeed.
7
Expenditure; money paid out or spent; an expense.
每个月我们都要规划好家庭的各项支出
Every month we need to plan well for various household expenditures.
8
Fulcrum: The point on which a lever pivots or is supported; also, a crucial supporting point or base.
在撬动重物时，选择一个合适的支点非常重要。
When prying a heavy object, choosing an appropriate fulcrum is very important.
9
A military unit or detachment, often equivalent to a regiment or division; it can also refer to a temporary combat group.
消防支队迅速赶到现场，扑灭了熊熊大火
The fire brigade quickly arrived at the scene and extinguished the raging fire.
10
To pay or make a payment.
顾客可以通过多种方式支付账单，包括现金、信用卡和移动支付。
Customers can pay their bills through various methods, including cash, credit cards, and mobile payments.
11
A structure or device used to support something; a stand or a prop.
园丁们为新种的藤蔓搭起了支架，帮助它们向上生长。
The gardeners set up supports for the newly planted vines to help them grow upwards.
12
An arm or supporting leg; one of several lateral, often horizontally extending parts.
搬运重物时，请确保工作台的支脚已牢固锁定，以防晃动
When moving heavy objects, please ensure that the work table's legs are securely locked to prevent wobbling.
13
Fragmented, disorganized, or scattered; can also mean thin and weak.
这本书的章节编排得有些支离，阅读起来不太顺畅。
The chapters of this book are arranged somewhat disjointed, making it not very smooth to read.
14
broken into pieces; fragmented
他的记忆支离破碎，无法完整回忆起昨晚发生的事情。
His memory is fragmented, and he cannot completely recall what happened last night.
15
A river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake; a tributary.
这条小溪最终汇入大河，成为它的一条支流
This small stream eventually flows into the main river, becoming one of its tributaries.
More words with 支
- diàn垫zhī支advance, advance money
- kāi开zhī支expenses, expenditure
- yì一zhī支a, one
- zhī支piào票check, cheque
- fēn分zhī支Branch, Fork
- shōu收zhī支income and expenditure, receipts and disbursements
- zhī支shi使order around, employ
- zhī支wu吾stammer, hem and haw
- zhī支yuán援support, aid
- zhī支zhù柱pillar, support
- dì地zhī支Earthly Branches, Twelve Earthly Branches
- qiāng枪zhī支Firearms, Guns
- chāo超zhī支over budget, overspend
- fú浮zhī支advance payment, drawing in advance
- liǎng两zhī支two, two teams
- nà那zhī支that one
- zhè这zhī支this, this one
- zhī支chí持nǐ你Support you, I support you
- jǐ几zhī支a few, several
- zhī支chēng撑qǐ起support, hold up
Idioms with 支
- zhī支wú吾qí其cí词speak evasively
- zhī支zhī支wú吾wú吾speak evasively and hesitantly
- bā八fāng方zhī支yuán援support and aid from all directions
- dú独lì力nán难zhī支too weak to cope alone
- fū肤mò末zhī支lí离superficial and fragmented
- kōng空tóu头zhī支piào票empty promise
- lè乐bù不kě可zhī支overjoyed beyond measure
- lì力bù不néng能zhī支too weak to continue
- rù入bù不zhī支chū出income not cover expenses
- tǒng统chóu筹tǒng统zhī支unified collection and expenditure
- yī一mù木nán难zhī支One person cannot support a collapsing building
- yín寅zhī支mǎo卯liáng粮spend next year's money this year
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Open the tool →Questions about 支
What does 支 mean in Chinese?
支 (zhī) means “To support” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 支?
支 is pronounced zhī in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 支 have?
支 has 4 strokes.
How do you write 支?
支 is written in 4 strokes, starting from the radical 支. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 支?
The radical of 支 is 支, and 支 is an ideographic compound.