Usage note
“支”是量词，用于细长的东西。
“zhī” shì liàngcí, yòng yú xì cháng de dōngxi.
"Zhi" is a measure word for long, thin items.
Context note
“支”常用于笔、蜡烛等。
“zhī” cháng yòng yú bǐ, làzhú děng.
"Zhi" is often used for pens, candles, etc.
5 examples
我有一支笔。
wǒ yǒu yì zhī bǐ。
I have a pen.
他买了两支蜡烛。
tā mǎi le liǎng zhī là zhú。
He bought two candles.
这是一支铅笔。
zhè shì yì zhī qiān bǐ。
This is a pencil.
她有三支花。
tā yǒu sān zhī huā。
She has three flowers.
那支筷子掉了。
nà zhī kuài zi diào le。
That chopstick fell.
5 mini stories
小明用一支笔画画。
xiǎo míng yòng yì zhī bǐ huà huà。
Xiao Ming uses a pen to draw.
妈妈点了一支蜡烛。
mā ma diǎn le yì zhī là zhú。
Mom lit a candle.
我有一支新铅笔。
wǒ yǒu yì zhī xīn qiān bǐ。
I have a new pencil.
她送我一支花。
tā sòng wǒ yì zhī huā。
She gave me a flower.
那支筷子是红色的。
nà zhī kuài zi shì hóng sè de。
That chopstick is red.
Mini dialogue
买笔
A
我想买一支铅笔。
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī zhī qiānbǐ.
I want to buy a pencil.
B
好的，给你这支蓝色的。
Hǎo de, gěi nǐ zhè zhī lán sè de.
Okay, here's this blue one for you.
找笔
A
你看到我的那支笔了吗？
Nǐ kàn dào wǒ de nà zhī bǐ le ma?
Did you see that pen of mine?
B
在桌子上，那支黑色的就是。
Zài zhuōzi shàng, nà zhī hēisè de jiù shì.
On the desk, that black one is it.
Related words and contrasts
similar
条
tiáo
MW for long, flexible items
支 is for stiff long things like pens; 条 is for flexible long things like fish or roads.
similar
根
gēn
MW for long, thin, often rigid items
根 is similar to 支 but often used for things like hair, strings, or bananas.
contrast
把
bǎ
MW for objects with handles
把 is for things you hold by a handle, like an umbrella or a chair, not long thin items.