Usage note
指表示用手指向，也可表示说明。
zhǐ biǎo shì yòng shǒu zhǐ xiàng， yě kě biǎo shì shuō míng。
指 means to point with a finger, and can also mean to indicate.
Context note
指常用于动作、说明和方向。
zhǐ cháng yòng yú dòng zuò 、 shuō míng hé fāng xiàng。
指 is often used with actions, explanation, and direction.
5 examples
他指着门。
tā zhǐ zhe mén。
He pointed at the door.
老师指了指黑板。
lǎo shī zhǐ le zhǐ hēi bǎn。
The teacher pointed at the blackboard.
这句话指什么？
zhè jù huà zhǐ shén me？
What does this sentence refer to?
请指出答案。
qǐng zhǐ chū dá àn。
Please point out the answer.
手指很重要。
shǒu zhǐ hěn zhòng yào。
Fingers are important.
5 mini stories
他指着地图给我们看。
tā zhǐ zhe dì tú gěi wǒ men kàn。
He pointed at the map and showed us.
老师指着图说故事。
lǎo shī zhǐ zhe tú shuō gù shì。
The teacher pointed at the picture and told the story.
不要乱指别人。
bú yào luàn zhǐ bié rén。
Do not point at others carelessly.
她用手指指向前方。
tā yòng shǒu zhǐ zhǐ xiàng qián fāng。
She pointed forward with her finger.
这个词指的是原因。
zhè ge cí zhǐ de shì yuán yīn。
This word refers to the reason.
Mini dialogue
指路
A
请问，图书馆怎么走？
Qǐngwèn, túshūguǎn zěnme zǒu?
Excuse me, how do I get to the library?
B
你看到那棵大树了吗？我指的方向就是，往前走就到了。
Nǐ kàn dào nà kē dà shù le ma? Wǒ zhǐ de fāngxiàng jiù shì, wǎng qián zǒu jiù dào le.
Do you see that big tree? The direction I'm pointing is it, just walk straight ahead.
不要用手指人
A
用手指着别人是不礼貌的。
Yòng shǒu zhǐzhe biérén shì bù lǐmào de.
It's impolite to point your finger at others.
B
我知道了，以后我会注意的。
Wǒ zhīdào le, yǐhòu wǒ huì zhùyì de.
I understand, I will pay attention to that in the future.
Related words and contrasts
similar
指向
zhǐxiàng
to point at
指 means to point, and 指向 means to point towards something.
related
手指
shǒuzhǐ
finger
指 is the action of pointing, often done with a 手指 (finger).