针 (zhēn) is a Chinese character meaning “needle”. It is written from 钅 (metal radical (left-side form of 金)) and 十 (ten), side by side, and takes 7 strokes.
Build the character for “needle”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
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Structure
钅 + 十
Left–right structure
Structure from: hanzi-writer-data 2.0.1 现代字形拆分核验：7 画 = 钅 5 画 + 十 2 画；部首为金部，左旁「钅」是「金」的偏旁形态。右旁「十」的功能（表音或别义）无可追溯依据，标为 unknown
Memory aid
Take metal (钅) and draw it out ten (十) times thinner — now it is a needle.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
7 strokes
In real words
- 打针dǎ zhēnto give or get an injection针 = zhēn
- 扎针zhā zhēnto give an injection; to insert an acupuncture needle针 = zhēn
- 针灸zhēn jiǔacupuncture and moxibustion针 = zhēn
Go deeper
All readings
needle
needle; pin; injection; something shaped like a needle
缝衣、注射或针灸用的细长尖锐器具；也指像针一样的东西。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 打针dǎ zhēnto give or get an injection针 = zhēn
- 扎针zhā zhēnto give an injection; to insert an acupuncture needle针 = zhēn
- 针灸zhēn jiǔacupuncture and moxibustion针 = zhēn
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 针 mean?
针 (zhēn) means needle; pin; injection; something shaped like a needle.
How do you pronounce 针?
It is pronounced zhēn.
What parts is 针 made of?
钅 (metal radical (left-side form of 金)) and 十 (ten), side by side. The recorded source is: hanzi-writer-data 2.0.1 现代字形拆分核验：7 画 = 钅 5 画 + 十 2 画；部首为金部，左旁「钅」是「金」的偏旁形态。右旁「十」的功能（表音或别义）无可追溯依据，标为 unknown. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 针 have?
7. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 针?
金. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 针?
Common ones are 打针 and 扎针. The reading of 针 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.