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March 24, 2026
暇xiá(xia2)
The character 暇 (xiá) refers to leisure or free time when one is not engaged in work or responsibilities. It conveys a sense of relaxation and the opportunity to enjoy activities without pressure. Commonly used in contexts discussing hobbies, vacations, or downtime.
Strokes13Radical日Frequency#46891DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, leisure time has traditionally been valued for personal growth and socialization, often reflected in practices like tai chi in parks or tea appreciation. The concept of '闲暇' (xiánxiá), which encompasses moments of leisure, is significant in maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
Memory Tip
Think of 暇 (xiá) as a cozy 'xia' (sounds like 'shah') moment where you can kick back and relax. The sun (日) and the moon (月) symbolize the passage of time, highlighting those moments of leisure in between work, creating a visual of day turning to night where you can finally enjoy your spare time.
Meanings of 暇
xiá(xia2)
1leisure, relaxation, spare time
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 暇
暇Simplified
13Strokes
日Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 暇
Podcast: 暇
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AI Study Notes for 暇
Quick Contrast
闲 (xián) - use 暇 (xiá) when emphasizing a more enjoyable or relaxed sense of free time, while 闲 (xián) can imply idleness or lack of occupation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 暇 with other words related to time, such as 时间 (shíjiān) which means 'time' in a more general sense. This word is more informal and is typically used in casual conversations. Be mindful of using the correct tone as it can change the meaning dramatically.
HSK Study Tips
While 暇 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it complements HSK level 3 words related to time and activities. Students should focus on how to use this word in sentences about leisure activities to reinforce their understanding of context.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 暇 with 忙 (máng), mistakenly saying '我很暇' (wǒ hěn xiá) to mean 'I am busy.' The correct phrase would be '我很忙' (wǒ hěn máng). Another mistake is misusing it in formal contexts where a more appropriate term like 空闲 (kòngxián) would fit better.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 暇
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Phonosemantic compound. 日 represents the meaning and 叚 represents the sound.
1The meaning half日 carries the sense.
2The sound half叚 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaysun
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 暇? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 暇?
Decomposition of 暇
IDS Structure⿰日叚
暇Full Character
=
日Ri4
left
叚jia3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 暇?
How to say leisure, relaxation, spare time in Chinese
“leisure, relaxation, spare time” in Chinese is暇xiá
The character 暇 (xiá) refers to leisure or free time when one is not engaged in work or responsibilities. It conveys a sense of relaxation and the opportunity to enjoy activities without pressure. Commonly used in contexts discussing hobbies, vacations, or downtime.
When to use 暇
Learners often confuse 暇 with other words related to time, such as 时间 (shíjiān) which means 'time' in a more general sense. This word is more informal and is typically used in casual conversations. Be mindful of using the correct tone as it can change the meaning dramatically.
暇 or something close to it
闲 (xián) - use 暇 (xiá) when emphasizing a more enjoyable or relaxed sense of free time, while 闲 (xián) can imply idleness or lack of occupation.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 暇 with 忙 (máng), mistakenly saying '我很暇' (wǒ hěn xiá) to mean 'I am busy.' The correct phrase would be '我很忙' (wǒ hěn máng). Another mistake is misusing it in formal contexts where a more appropriate term like 空闲 (kòngxián) would fit better.
Write 暇
暇
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Practice writing 暇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 暇
暇 carries one core meaning. 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 4
Complete the Sentence
昨天罗斯先生和伍德黑德先生都无____发表意见。
Neither Mr Rose nor Mr Woodhead was available for comment yesterday.
Example Sentences for 暇 (5)
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1
昨天罗斯先生和伍德黑德先生都无暇发表意见。
zuó tiān luó sī xiān shēng hé wǔ dé hēi dé xiān shēng dū wú xiá fā biǎo yì jiàn。
Neither Mr Rose nor Mr Woodhead was available for comment yesterday.
2
在工作和闲暇之间很难划出明确的界限。
zài gōng zuò hé xián xiá zhī jiān hěn nán huá chū míng què de jiè xiàn。
It was hard to draw clear lines of demarcation between work and leisure.
3
她无暇顾及自己瘦了多少,变成了什么样子.
tā wú xiá gù jí zì jǐ shòu le duō shǎo, , biàn chéng le shí mó yàng.
She had no idea of how much weight she had lost or how she looked.
