指向
zhǐxiàng · HSK 7
point to
👉 指 = finger + 向 = toward; finger points toward something
指 carries the finger radical 扌 and means finger or to point; 向 means toward or direction. Together zhǐxiàng is to point toward or point at, the act a finger does when it aims at a target.
指 — hand radical 扌 + 旨 (zhǐ, phonetic)
指 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 gives the meaning — something done with the hand, namely pointing with a finger. 旨 supplies the sound 'zhǐ'. From 'finger' it naturally extended to the verb 'to point' and figurative senses like 'to indicate' or 'to refer to'.
向 — roof 宀 + mouth 口
Originally a pictograph of a house with a north-facing window, showing an opening in a wall under a roof. The early meaning was 'north window,' which extended to 'the direction something faces,' then broadly to 'toward' or 'direction.' The modern shape simplified the window into 口.