Learn a Chinese Character - 支 (zhī) - Support, Branch

1. Character Basics (基本信息)

Radical: 支 (The character itself as a radical)

Stroke Count: 4 (Four strokes)

Character Structure: 支 is a single - body character, with a simple structure that can be seen as a shape representing a support or branch. (支是独体字，结构简单，可看作代表支撑或分支的形状。)

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation (发音)

Pinyin: zhī (First tone)

3. Meaning (含义)

支 can mean to support, prop up; it can also refer to a branch (e.g., of a tree, an organization). (支可以表示支撑、支持；也可指分支，如树枝、组织的分支。)

4. Common Words (常用词汇)

• 支持 (zhī chí) - Support
• 支出 (zhī chū) - Expenditure
• 支流 (zhī liú) - Tributary

5. Grammar & Usage (语法与用法)

支 can be used as a verb, such as "支持 (support)", or as a measure word for long and thin objects, like "一支笔 (a pen)". (支可作动词，如“支持”；也可作量词，用于细长的物品，如“一支笔”。)

6. Cultural Background (文化背景)

In Chinese culture, the concept of "支" is related to the idea of support and expansion. For example, in family trees or organizational structures, branches represent the extension of the main body. (在中国文化中，“支”的概念与支撑和扩展有关。例如，在族谱或组织结构中，分支代表主体的延伸。)

7. Example Sentence (例句)

8. Memory Tips (记忆技巧)

You can think of 支 as a hand (the upper part) reaching out to support something. (你可以把“支”想象成一只手（上面部分）伸出去支撑某物。)