針

简 针 · 繁 針
Mandarin · pinyin zhēn

Meanings

  1. needle
  2. pin
  3. injection
  4. stitch
  5. Classifier: 根 gēn, 支 zhī
Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

針
Look up this written character
针
zhēn · needle; pin; tack; acupuncture
Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

1 · zhen1

Compare attested words with these syllables ↗

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

1character link52same-tone records3source references
Explore word families ↗Compare pronunciations ↗Open character structure ↗
Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

針 · find source passages ↗ · 针 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Rime · Wiktionary

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

zam1

Cantonese word readings for 針. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character

  1. (countable) needle (Classifier: 根 m; 枚 m; 枝 c mn; 眼 c)
  2. needle-like object; pin; brooch; hand (of a clock or watch); tack
  3. injection
  4. acupuncture
  5. to poke; to sting
  6. (Cantonese) to pick on; to aim at someone personally
  7. (Cantonese) spy; informer; probe (Classifier: 條/条 c)
  8. Classifier for the number of injections.
  9. Classifier for the number of stitches.

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack