Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

to rule; to govern; to manage; to control; to harness (a river); cure

Chinese: 治理、管理或治疗。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “zhi” becomes a different word in each tone. 治 is the 4th tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 治疗zhì liáoto treat (an illness); medical treatment; therapy
  • 政治zhèng zhìpolitics; political
  • 治安zhì ānlaw and order; public security
  • 统治tǒng zhìto rule (a country); to govern; rule; regime
  • 治理zhì lǐto govern; to administer; to manage; to control

Example Sentence

医生治好了他的病。Yī shēng zhì hǎo le tā de bìng.The doctor cured his illness.

医生Yī shēngdoctor治好zhì hǎoto curele(completed action)hedeofbìngillness

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

The water radical 氵 plus 台 (sound): originally to manage a river. It means ‘to govern, manage, administer; to treat, cure; to control (water/pests); order, peace’ (治理, 治病, 政治).

A way to remember it

From managing water (氵) — to govern; to cure.