針 (zhēn) - Needle — a thin, pointed metal instrument used

針Tone 1

zhēn ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

丈志

針 · zhēn

Needle — a thin, pointed metal instrument used for sewing, medical injections, acupuncture, or as a component in various instruments.

Needle — a thin, pointed metal instrument used

Usage highlights

Needle and threadAcupuncture needleCompass needleNeedle tipHypodermic needleNeedlework

Synonyms

  • 针— Needle (general term)

Antonyms

  • 锤— Hammer (a blunt tool, conceptually opposite to a sharp needle)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She threaded the sewing needle (针).
  • The doctor gave him an injection with a needle (针头).
  • Acupuncture uses fine needles (针灸).
  • The compass needle points north (指南针).

Collocations

  • Needle and thread(针线)
  • Acupuncture needle(针灸针)
  • Compass needle(指南针)
  • Needle tip(针尖)
  • Hypodermic needle(注射针)
  • Needlework(针线活)

Idioms

  • As sharp as a needle(针尖对麦芒)
  • A needle in a haystack(大海捞针)
  • Sewing and mending(穿针引线)
  • A sitting needle felt as if a mat(如坐针毡)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically made from bone, bronze, or iron; crucial for clothing production and traditional medicine.
  • Acupuncture, a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine, relies on fine needles to stimulate specific points on the body.
  • The invention of the magnetic compass (指南针) was a major Chinese technological contribution to navigation.

FAQ