Meaning
appear; present; now; existing; current
Chinese: 出现、现在。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “xian” becomes a different word in each tone. 现 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
- 现在xiàn zàinow; at present; currently
- 发现fā xiànto notice; to become aware of; to discover; to find
- 出现chū xiànto appear; to arise; to emerge; to show up
- 实现shí xiànto achieve; to implement; to realize; to bring about
- 表现biǎo xiànto show; to show off; to display; to manifest
Example Sentence
现在是下午三点。Xiàn zài shì xià wǔ sān diǎn.It is now three in the afternoon.
现在Xiàn zàinow是shìis下午xià wǔafternoon三sānthree点diǎnto touch briefly。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
Jade (王, the form of 玉) plus 见 (to see): jade brought out into view. It means ‘to appear / present / now’. Simplified from 現.
A way to remember it
Jade (王) coming into sight (见) — to appear, the present.
Easy to confuse with
- 见‘To see’: the right-hand part of 现, on its own.