Meaning
sex; nature; surname; suffix corresponding to -ness or -ity
Chinese: 性质、性别或性格。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “xing” becomes a different word in each tone. 性 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
- 个性gè xìngindividuality; personality
- 性格xìng génature; disposition; temperament; character
- 性别xìng biésex; gender
- 积极性jī jí xìngzeal; initiative; enthusiasm; activity
- 女性nǚ xìngwoman; the female sex
Example Sentence
耐心是一种重要的性格。Nài xīn shì yì zhǒng zhòng yào de xìng gé.Patience is an important character trait.
耐心Nài xīnto be patient是shìis一种yì zhǒngone kind of重要zhòng yàoimportant的deof性格xìng génature。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
The heart radical 忄 plus 生 (shēng, sound): one's inborn heart — ‘nature, character, disposition; sex/gender; the quality of (a noun-forming suffix, like -ness/-ity)’.
A way to remember it
The heart (忄) you're born (生) with — nature, character.