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March 24, 2026
杏xìng(xing4)
杏 (xìng) refers to both apricots and almonds, which are fruits commonly found in Chinese cuisine and used in traditional medicine. In culinary contexts, it can refer to the fruit itself or dishes made with it, while in a broader sense, it may also be associated with the concept of sweetness and nourishment.
Strokes7Radical木Frequency#14892DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, apricots are often associated with health benefits and are used in various traditional dishes, particularly in desserts or as snacks. They are also featured in Chinese medicine for their supposed health-promoting properties.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant apricot (杏) with two almond (杏) trees growing beside it, their branches forming the character's shape. The left side resembles a tree, and the right side looks like the fruit, helping you remember both the form and the meaning.
Meanings of 杏
xìng(xing4)
1apricot; almond
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 杏
杏Simplified
7Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 杏
Podcast: 杏
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AI Study Notes for 杏
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant apricot (杏) with two almond (杏) trees growing beside it, their branches forming the character's shape. The left side resembles a tree, and the right side looks like the fruit, helping you remember both the form and the meaning.
Usage Notes
杏 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in recipes or discussions about food. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar fruit characters, such as 桃 (táo, peach) or 李 (lǐ, plum), as they may appear in similar culinary discussions.
HSK Study Tips
Although 杏 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other food-related terms at beginner levels. Focus on its pronunciation and usage in context with other fruits to enhance vocabulary retention.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, apricots are often associated with health benefits and are used in various traditional dishes, particularly in desserts or as snacks. They are also featured in Chinese medicine for their supposed health-promoting properties.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 杏 with similar fruit characters like 桃 (peach) or 李 (plum). For example, saying '我喜欢李' (I like apricots) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢杏'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 杏
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Grammar Patterns of 杏
杏 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
插图上是一簇____橙色的玫瑰，一共5朵。
The illustration shows a cluster of five roses coloured apricot orange.
Example Sentences for 杏 (5)
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1
插图上是一簇杏橙色的玫瑰，一共5朵。
chā tú shàng shì yī cù xìng chéng sè de méi guī， ， yī5 gòng。
The illustration shows a cluster of five roses coloured apricot orange.
2
试着吃些用水泡过的西梅干、无花果干或杏干。
shì zháo chī xiē yòng shuǐ pào guò de xī méi gān、 、 wú huā guǒ gān huò xìng。
Try eating reconstituted dried prunes, figs or apricots.
3
她好象神经质似地把她面前的蛋糕和甜杏仁羹推在一边.
tā hǎo xiàng shén jīng zhì sì dì bǎ tā miàn qián de dàn gāo hé tián xìng rén gēng tuī zài yī biān.
She nervously pushed away her cake and stewed apricots.
In Chinese culture, apricots are often associated with health benefits and are used in various traditional dishes, particularly in desserts or as snacks. They are also featured in Chinese medicine for their supposed health-promoting properties.
Word Family of 杏
Words Containing This Character14
杏xìngapricot
杏仁almond
银杏maidenhair tree銀杏
杏子apricot
杏林区Xinglin district of Xiamen city 廈門市|厦门市 (renamed Haicang district 海滄區|海沧区 in 2003)杏林區
红杏出墙fig. a wife having an illicit lover紅杏出牆
杏树apricot tree杏樹
杏花村village of blossoming apricot trees where one can find a wineshop (reference to the famous poem 清明 by 杜牧[DùMù])
杏眼large, round eyes (considered beautiful)
杏花岭区Xinghualing district of Taiyuan city 太原市[Tàiyuánshì], Shanxi杏花嶺區
巴旦杏almond (loanword)
杏花岭Xinghualing district of Taiyuan city 太原市[Tàiyuánshì], Shanxi杏花嶺
杏仁体amygdala杏仁體
杏林forest of apricot trees
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 杏 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 杏
杏 refers to apricots and almonds, while 桃 refers specifically to peaches. They are different fruits with distinct flavors and uses.
You can say '我喜欢吃杏' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī xìng), which means 'I like to eat apricots.'
Yes, 杏 is often used in desserts and snacks, such as 杏仁豆腐 (xìng rén dòufu), which is almond tofu.
