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煦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
煦xùkind, gentle, graciousnr, 13 strokes, radical 灬
煦xùbalmyunknown, 13 strokes, radical 灬
煦xùnicely warmunknown, 13 strokes, radical 灬
煦xùcozyunknown, 13 strokes, radical 灬
煦xùTaiwan pr. [xu3]unknown, 13 strokes, radical 灬
xù(xu4)xu T4
  1. 1kind, gentle, gracious
  2. 2balmy
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March 24, 2026

煦xù(xu4)

The character 煦 (xù) primarily means 'kind' or 'gentle', often used to describe a warm and pleasant atmosphere or demeanor. It can also refer to a balmy or cozy temperature, suggesting a sense of comfort and gentleness. This word is commonly used in contexts relating to weather or personality traits.

Strokes13Radical灬
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the idea of being gentle and kind (as embodied by 煦) is highly valued, especially in interpersonal relationships and hospitality. A cozy atmosphere is often associated with family gatherings and traditional celebrations, reflecting warmth in social interactions.

Memory tip

Imagine a cozy room where the gentle warmth of the sun makes you feel welcomed. The character 煦 resembles a person (火, fire) creating warmth (助, assistance) in a kind, gentle way. The pronunciation 'xù' can be remembered by thinking of 'suit', as in a warm suit for cold weather.

Meanings of 煦

xù(xu4)
1kind, gentle, gracious
2balmy
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 煦 means.

About 煦

煦Simplified
13Strokes
灬Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 煦

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Podcast: 煦

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AI study notes for 煦

Quick Contrast

温 (wēn) - use 煦 (xù) for a more nuanced sense of gentleness and comfort in atmosphere, while 温 (wēn) generally refers to warmth without the same connotation of gentleness.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 煦 with similar-sounding words or characters, like 许 (xǔ), which means 'to allow' or 'to promise'. It's also important to note that 煦 is more commonly used in written Chinese and may sound formal in casual conversations. Common collocations include 煦暖 (warm and gentle) and 煦气 (pleasant atmosphere).

HSK Study Tips

While 煦 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your grasp of nuanced adjectives. Connect it with other adjectives describing weather or personality traits, such as 温暖 (wēnnuǎn, warm) and 和蔼 (hé'ǎi, amiable). Focus on using it in descriptive sentences.

Common Mistakes

Learners may incorrectly use 煦 in contexts where stronger adjectives like 温暖 (wēnnuǎn) are needed. For example, saying '今天的天气很煦' (Today’s weather is very kind) should be corrected to '今天的天气很温暖' (Today’s weather is very warm).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 煦

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Etymology of 煦

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A warm 昫 fire 灬; 昫 also provides the pronunciation

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

Origin

What kind of character is 煦?

Decomposition of 煦

IDS Structure⿱昫灬
煦Full character
=
昫xu4
top
灬huo3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 煦?

How to say kind, gentle, gracious in Chinese

“kind, gentle, gracious” in Chinese is煦xù

The character 煦 (xù) primarily means 'kind' or 'gentle', often used to describe a warm and pleasant atmosphere or demeanor. It can also refer to a balmy or cozy temperature, suggesting a sense of comfort and gentleness. This word is commonly used in contexts relating to weather or personality traits.

When to use 煦

Learners often confuse 煦 with similar-sounding words or characters, like 许 (xǔ), which means 'to allow' or 'to promise'. It's also important to note that 煦 is more commonly used in written Chinese and may sound formal in casual conversations. Common collocations include 煦暖 (warm and gentle) and 煦气 (pleasant atmosphere).

煦 or something close to it

温 (wēn) - use 煦 (xù) for a more nuanced sense of gentleness and comfort in atmosphere, while 温 (wēn) generally refers to warmth without the same connotation of gentleness.

What learners get wrong

Learners may incorrectly use 煦 in contexts where stronger adjectives like 温暖 (wēnnuǎn) are needed. For example, saying '今天的天气很煦' (Today’s weather is very kind) should be corrected to '今天的天气很温暖' (Today’s weather is very warm).

Write 煦

煦

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

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Grammar patterns of 煦

煦 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). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

____暖的气候将比目鱼引到了近海。

Warm weather has attracted the flat fish close to shore.

Example sentences for 煦 (3)

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1
煦暖的气候将比目鱼引到了近海。

xù nuǎn de qìhòu jiāng bǐ mù yú yǐn dào le jìn hǎi。

Warm weather has attracted the flat fish close to shore.
2
这是个和煦的早晨,阳光普照。

zhè shì gè hé xù de zǎochen, yángguāng pǔ zhào。

It is a mild morning and the sun is shining.
3
愿您永远是春的使者,将和煦的阳光洒满人间.

yuàn nín yǒngyuǎn shì chūn de shǐzhě, jiāng hé xù de yángguāng sǎ mǎn rénjiān.

You are a spring angel bringing genial sunshine to the world.

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Word Family of 煦

Words containing this character4
和煦warm
煦xùbalmy
温煦warm溫煦
煦暖to warm
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 煦

What does 和煦 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 煦

The correct pronunciation is 'xù', with a falling tone.

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