Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

meso- (chem.); new; newly

Chinese: 新的、刚出现的。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “xin” becomes a different word in each tone. 新 is the 1st 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

  • 新年xīn niánNew Year
  • 新闻xīn wénnews
  • 重新chóng xīnagain; once more; re-
  • 新鲜xīn xiānfresh (experience, food etc); freshness; novel; uncommon
  • 创新chuàng xīnto bring forth new ideas; to blaze new trails; innovation

Example Sentence

我买了一件新衣服。Wǒ mǎi le yí jiàn xīn yī fu.I bought a new piece of clothing.

Imǎito buyle(completed action)onejiànitemxīnnew衣服yī fuclothes

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

亲 (here 辛 + 木, a hazel tree) plus 斤 (an axe): freshly cut firewood — the original of 薪. Borrowed for ‘new, fresh; recently; to renew’ (新闻, 重新).

A way to remember it

Freshly axed (斤) wood (木) — new, fresh.