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March 24, 2026
指甲zhǐjia(zhi3jia5)
指甲 (zhǐjiǎ) refers to the hard, protective covering at the tips of fingers and toes, commonly known as fingernails or toenails. In daily conversation, it is often used in contexts related to grooming, health, and beauty, as well as in idiomatic expressions about precision or detail.
Frequency#3723DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, manicured nails are often seen as a sign of good hygiene and personal care, especially in urban areas. Nail salons are popular and can be found in almost every city, reflecting trends in beauty and self-presentation.
Memory Tip
Imagine your finger (指) has a tiny 'nail' (甲) that you need to keep clean and manicured. Visualize a shiny nail on your finger, emphasizing the connection between the 'finger' and the 'nail'. This can help you remember both the pronunciation and the meaning.
Meanings of 指甲
zhǐjia(zhi3jia5)
1fingernail
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 指甲
指甲Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3723Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 指甲
Podcast: 指甲
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AI Study Notes for 指甲
Quick Contrast
指甲 (zhǐjiǎ) vs 甲 (jiǎ) — use 指甲 when specifically referring to fingernails or toenails, while 甲 can refer to armor or the first in a sequence.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine your finger (指) has a tiny 'nail' (甲) that you need to keep clean and manicured. Visualize a shiny nail on your finger, emphasizing the connection between the 'finger' and the 'nail'. This can help you remember both the pronunciation and the meaning.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 指甲 with other similar terms like 手指 (shǒuzhǐ), which means 'finger' itself. It's an informal term, so while it's commonly used in everyday conversation, it may not be suitable for formal medical contexts where 'nail' might be referred to in more technical language.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 指甲 connects with other vocabulary related to body parts, health, and personal care. Students should focus on collocations like 修指甲 (xiū zhǐjiǎ, 'to manicure') and learn to use it in sentences discussing grooming or health.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, manicured nails are often seen as a sign of good hygiene and personal care, especially in urban areas. Nail salons are popular and can be found in almost every city, reflecting trends in beauty and self-presentation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 指甲 with the word for 'finger' (手指, shǒuzhǐ), leading to incorrect phrases like '我有两个指甲' (I have two fingernails) instead of '我有两个手指' (I have two fingers). Another common mistake is omitting the context, such as not specifying '修指甲' when discussing nail care.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 指甲
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Grammar Patterns of 指甲
指甲 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我____根部的表皮龟裂粗糙，指甲被咬得参差不齐。
My cuticles were split and ragged, and my nails unevenly bitten.
tā de zhǐ jiǎ tú chéng le dà hóng sè， ， wéi de shì yǔ qún zǐ xiāng。
Her nails were painted bright red to match her dress.
10
她把指甲涂成了亮红色。
tā bǎ zhǐ jiǎ tú chéng le liàng hóng sè。
She painted her fingernails bright red.
Cultural Notes for 指甲
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, manicured nails are often seen as a sign of good hygiene and personal care, especially in urban areas. Nail salons are popular and can be found in almost every city, reflecting trends in beauty and self-presentation.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, nail care is also significant, but the practice of nail art and elaborate designs may be more pronounced compared to traditional Chinese views that prioritize simplicity and natural beauty.
Frequently Asked Questions about 指甲
You can say '剪指甲' (jiǎn zhǐjiǎ).
'指甲' primarily refers to fingernails, while toenails are referred to as '脚指甲' (jiǎo zhǐjiǎ).
'指甲' is generally informal; for formal contexts, you might want to use more technical terms related to nails.
