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惺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
xīngintelligent, clever, astutel, 12 strokes, radical 忄, rank #17845, Hard
xīngtranquilunknown, 12 strokes, radical 忄, rank #17845, Hard
xīngunderstandunknown, 12 strokes, radical 忄, rank #17845, Hard
xīng(xing1) T1
  1. 1intelligent, clever, astute
  2. 2tranquil
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
xīng(xing1)

The character 惺 (xīng) refers to someone who is intelligent, clever, or astute. It can also convey a sense of tranquility and understanding, often used in contexts where clarity of thought or awareness is emphasized, such as in philosophical or literary discussions.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#17845DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, intelligence and wisdom are highly valued traits, often associated with ancient philosophers and scholars. The character 惺 reflects this reverence for mental acuity and understanding.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise owl (which symbolizes intelligence) sitting calmly on a branch, fully aware of its surroundings. The character 惺 combines the radical for heart (忄) with the idea of clarity, suggesting a heart that understands and perceives things clearly.

Meanings of 惺

xīng(xing1)
1intelligent, clever, astute
2tranquil
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 惺

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
习用语phrase (phr.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 惺

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 惺

Quick Contrast

醒 (xǐng) - use 惺 (xīng) when emphasizing intelligence or clarity of thought, while 醒 (xǐng) focuses on the act of waking up or becoming alert.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wise owl (which symbolizes intelligence) sitting calmly on a branch, fully aware of its surroundings. The character 惺 combines the radical for heart (忄) with the idea of clarity, suggesting a heart that understands and perceives things clearly.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 惺 with similar-sounding words, so it's important to practice distinguishing between them. This character is more formal and is typically used in written language rather than spoken conversations. Common collocations include 惺惺相惜 (xīng xīng xiāng xī), meaning 'wise people appreciate each other'.

HSK Study Tips

While 惺 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, its components are useful for understanding other characters at the same level. Focus on the heart radical (忄) and how it relates to emotions and intelligence in other words.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, intelligence and wisdom are highly valued traits, often associated with ancient philosophers and scholars. The character 惺 reflects this reverence for mental acuity and understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 惺 with 想 (xiǎng), which means 'to think' or 'to miss'. For example, saying '我想他很惺' (Wǒ xiǎng tā hěn xīng) incorrectly mixes meanings; it should be '我觉得他很聪明' (Wǒ juédé tā hěn cōngmíng) for 'I think he is very clever'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 惺

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Etymology of 惺

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A brilliant 星 mind 忄; 星 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 惺?

Decomposition of 惺

IDS Structure⿰忄星
Full Character
=
xin1
left
xing1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 惺?

Write 惺

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 惺

惺 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

____惺相惜了半个小时后,我们转而讨论一些更为实际的问题。

After half an hour's commis-eration, we turned to more practical matters.

Example Sentences for 惺 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
惺惺相惜了半个小时后,我们转而讨论一些更为实际的问题。

xīng xīng xiāng xī le bàn gè xiǎo shí hòu, , wǒ mén zhuǎn ér tǎo lùn yī xiē gēng wéi shí jì de wèn。

After half an hour's commis-eration, we turned to more practical matters.

Cultural Notes for 惺

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, intelligence and wisdom are highly valued traits, often associated with ancient philosophers and scholars. The character 惺 reflects this reverence for mental acuity and understanding.

Word Family of 惺

Words Containing This Character5
xīngtranquil
假惺惺hypocritical
惺惺相惜to sympathize with one another
惺忪drowsy-eyed
惺惺惜惺惺to sympathize with one another
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 惺 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 惺

No, 惺 is more often found in literary or formal contexts rather than casual speech.