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幟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
幟zhìflag, pennant, sign; to fastenx, 15 strokes, radical 巾
zhì(zhi4) T4
  1. 1flag, pennant, sign; to fasten
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

幟zhì(zhi4)

The character 幟 (zhì) refers to a flag or pennant, commonly used in contexts related to banners or signs that convey messages or indicate identity. It can also mean 'to fasten' in certain contexts, usually involving securing something in place. This character is often associated with celebrations, ceremonies, and signaling.

Strokes15Radical巾
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, flags and banners are significant during festivals, parades, and traditional ceremonies, symbolizing unity and purpose. The character 幟 embodies this cultural importance by representing the physical symbols that rally people together.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large flag (幟) waving in the wind, catching your attention. The left part resembles a person holding the flag, while the right side looks like a pole supporting it. Associate 'zhì' with the sound of a flag flapping, helping you remember its pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 幟

zhì(zhi4)
1flag, pennant, sign; to fasten
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 幟

幟Simplified
15Strokes
巾Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 幟

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Podcast: 幟

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AI Study Notes for 幟

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 幟 with similar characters that refer to different types of signs or symbols. It’s more formal and is used in contexts like festivals or military reserves, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include '比赛的旗帜' (competition flag) and '宣传旗' (promotional banner).

HSK Study Tips

Though 幟 is not on the HSK list, it connects to HSK Level 4 words like '旗' (flag) and '标志' (sign). Focus on recognizing its use in written texts about celebrations or events, as understanding this character can enhance comprehension of related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 幟 with 纸 (zhǐ), which means 'paper', due to similar pronunciation. Always remember that 幟 relates to flags while 纸 relates to writing material.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 幟

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Etymology of 幟

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 巾 represents the meaning and 只 represents the sound. Simplified form of 幟.

Memory Hint

curtain

Semantic (meaning)巾
+
Phonetic (sound)戠
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 幟

Phonosemantic compound. 巾 represents the meaning and 只 represents the sound. Simplified form of 幟.

  1. 1The meaning half巾 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half戠 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaycurtain
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 幟? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 幟?

Decomposition of 幟

IDS Structure⿰巾戠
幟Full Character
=
巾jin1
left
戠zhi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 幟?

How to say flag, pennant, sign; to fasten in Chinese

“flag, pennant, sign; to fasten” in Chinese is幟zhì

The character 幟 (zhì) refers to a flag or pennant, commonly used in contexts related to banners or signs that convey messages or indicate identity. It can also mean 'to fasten' in certain contexts, usually involving securing something in place. This character is often associated with celebrations, ceremonies, and signaling.

When to use 幟

Be careful not to confuse 幟 with similar characters that refer to different types of signs or symbols. It’s more formal and is used in contexts like festivals or military reserves, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include '比赛的旗帜' (competition flag) and '宣传旗' (promotional banner).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 幟 with 纸 (zhǐ), which means 'paper', due to similar pronunciation. Always remember that 幟 relates to flags while 纸 relates to writing material.

Write 幟

幟

Practice writing 幟 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 幟

Words Containing This Character6
旗帜qízhìensign旗幟
独树一帜to stand out獨樹一幟
旗帜鲜明to show one's colors旗幟鮮明
帜zhìflag幟
别树一帜to stand out別樹一幟
徽帜banner徽幟
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 旗帜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 幟

The pronunciation is 'zhì' with a falling tone, similar to the English word 'sit' but with a tone that drops.

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