HSK 6 · Verbs

指示 zhǐshì “to instruct” in Chinese

Same in Traditional

What 指示 means

  1. to instruct
  2. to indicate
  3. instructions
  4. to point out
  5. directives

Measure word 个 gè · 一个指示 yí ge zhǐshì

How to say 指示

  • Pitch chart of the third tone: dips low then rises, 2 to 1 to 4 on the five-level scale指zhǐ3rd tone, dipping
  • Pitch chart of the fourth tone: falls from high to low, 5 to 1 on the five-level scale示shì4th tone, falling

指示 in a sentence

  1. 他给我的工作作出了明确指示。

    Tā gěi wǒ de gōngzuò zuòchū le míngquè zhǐshì.

    He gave me clear instructions for the job.

    Sentence #332459 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  2. 每个机场都有英文指示。

    Měi ge jīchǎng dōu yǒu Yīngwén zhǐshì.

    Every airport has signs in English.

    Sentence #343329 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  3. 我会听从指示。

    Wǒ huì tīngcóng zhǐshì.

    I’ll follow the instructions.

    Sentence #5691239 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

How 指示 is built

Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.

The character 指 (zhǐ) with each of its parts in a different colour
指zhǐfinger
  • 扌hand form of 手 · shǒu
  • 旨aim · zhǐ
The character 示 (shì) with each of its parts in a different colour
示shìto show
  • 二two · èr
  • 小small · xiǎo

How to write 指示

指 9 strokes · 示 5 strokes

Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.

指示 (zhǐshì) stroke order chart: each stroke of the characters in the order you write them
Stroke order chart for 指示 (zhǐshì). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

Words related to 指示

Words with 指

指zhǐ · finger手指shǒuzhǐ · finger戒指jièzhi · (finger) ring指导zhǐdǎo · to guide指挥zhǐhuī · to conduct指甲zhǐjia · fingernail指责zhǐzé · to criticise指定zhǐdìng · to appoint指望zhǐwàng · to count on指令zhǐlìng · instruction

Words with 示

表示biǎoshì · to express出示chūshì · to show显示xiǎnshì · to show暗示ànshì · to hint示意shìyì · to signal提示tíshì · to prompt展示zhǎnshì · to display示范shìfàn · to demonstrate请示qǐngshì · to ask for instructions示威shìwēi · to hold a demonstration

More words: Thinking & Talking

责怪zéguài · to blame证实zhèngshí · to confirm斟酌zhēnzhuó · to deliberate致辞zhìcí · to give a speech (formal)指责zhǐzé · to criticise转达zhuǎndá · to pass on嘱咐zhǔfù · to instruct着想zhuóxiǎng · to consider (the needs of)

FAQs

指示 (zhǐshì) means “to instruct” or “to indicate”. It is an HSK 6 word.
Say it zhǐshì: zhǐ with a 3rd tone, then shì with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
Yes. 指示 is written the same way in Simplified and Traditional characters.
Use 个 (gè). For example, one to instruct is 一个指示 (yí ge zhǐshì).
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type zhishi with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 指示 from the suggestions. Typing zhishi into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
指示 is an HSK 6 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.