How many strokes does the Chinese character "知" (zhī) have?
"知" has 8 strokes in Simplified Chinese. Its primary dictionary radical is 矢, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.
Ready · 8 strokes
Speed:
Auspicious & Poetic Naming
Name: Highly Recommended
Tattoo: Better in a Phrase
知 Knowledge in Chinese (zhī)
Dictionary Summary
知 (zhī) means to know; to be aware. Simplified form has 8 strokes under radical 矢.
Pinyin & Tonezhī (Tone 1)
Simplified / Trad.知 / 知
Radical矢
Total Strokes8 strokes
StructureLeft–Right (矢 + 口)
Unicode / LevelU+77E5 · HSK 1
Native Naming & Tattoo Safety Review
🪪 Using “知” in a Chinese Name · Highly Recommended (Unisex)
Fresh, literary, and gender-neutral (e.g., 知行, 知言, 知意, 知远). Conveys curiosity and self-awareness.
✒️ Using “知” for a Tattoo · Better in a Phrase
Standalone 知 just looks like a verb fragment ('to know'); use idioms like 知行合一 (unity of knowledge and action) or 知足 (contentment).
Character Etymology & CC-CEDICT Meanings
Origin & Visual Logic: Arrow (矢) beside mouth (口): insight spoken as swiftly and accurately as a flying arrow.
| Traditional / Simplified | Pinyin | CC-CEDICT Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| 知 / 知 | zhī | to know; to be aware |
Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).
Common Words & Idioms Using “知”
| Chinese Word | Pinyin | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 知识 | zhīshi | knowledge | |
| 知音 | zhīyīn | soulmate; kindred spirit | |
| 知行合一 | zhīxíng-héyī | unity of knowing and doing |
English Names Using “知” in Our Curated Recommendations
See how native speakers pair 知 (zhī) into modern Chinese names:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "知" good to use in a real Chinese name?
Rating: Highly Recommended (Unisex). Fresh, literary, and gender-neutral (e.g., 知行, 知言, 知意, 知远). Conveys curiosity and self-awareness.
Is "知" safe as a Chinese character tattoo?
Tattoo rating: Better in a Phrase. Standalone 知 just looks like a verb fragment ('to know'); use idioms like 知行合一 (unity of knowledge and action) or 知足 (contentment).