性 xìng — sex; nature; surname; suffix corresponding to -ness or -ity
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.
Common words: 个性 (gè xìng)、性格 (xìng gé)、性别 (xìng bié)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "nature"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "nature", including 性 (xìng), 质 (zhì). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "nature" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 性 (xìng), 质 (zhì) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xìng, zhì — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 性 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 性 xìngsex; nature; surname; suffix corresponding to -ness or -ityUseful words: 个性, 性格
- 质 zhìhostage; substance; nature; qualityUseful words: 质量, 品质
Common words for these 2 "nature" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 性 (xìng) — so "nature" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
个性gè xìngindividuality; personality性格xìng génature; disposition; temperament; character性别xìng biésex; gender质量zhì liàng(physics) mass; quality (i.e. degree of excellence); quality and quantity品质pǐn zhìcharacter; intrinsic quality (of a person); quality (of a product or service, or as in "quality of life", "air quality" etc)性质xìng zhìnature; characteristic
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "nature".
质 zhì — hostage; substance; nature; quality
我对他的答案表示质疑。Wǒ duì tā de dá àn biǎo shì zhì yí.I have doubts about his answer.
Common words: 质量 (zhì liàng)、品质 (pǐn zhì)、性质 (xìng zhì)
All 2 characters
Open 性、质 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.