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現 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
現xiànto appear, to manifest; current, nowzg, 11 strokes, radical 王
xiàn(xian4)xian T4
  1. 1to appear, to manifest; current, now
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March 24, 2026

現xiàn(xian4)

The character 現 (xiàn) means 'to appear' or 'to manifest,' often used to indicate something that is currently visible or happening. It is commonly found in contexts related to time, such as 'now' or 'present,' and can also refer to current situations or conditions.

Strokes11Radical王
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of the 'present moment' is significant, often emphasized in traditional philosophies like Daoism, which encourage living in the now. The character reflects this cultural value of mindfulness and awareness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a magician performing a trick. Suddenly, something 'appears' out of nowhere, just like how 現 (xiàn) signifies something that has manifested. The left part resembles the character for 'jade' (玉), suggesting something precious that is now visible.

Meanings of 現

xiàn(xian4)
1to appear, to manifest; current, now
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 現 means.

About 現

現Simplified
11Strokes
王Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 現

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Podcast: 現

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AI Study Notes for 現

Quick Contrast

现在 (xiànzài) vs 当前 (dāngqián) — use 现 (xiàn) for immediate appearance or manifestation, while 现在 (xiànzài) refers specifically to the current time, and 当前 (dāngqián) emphasizes the current state or situation.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but in written forms, it might lean toward more formal usage.

HSK Study Tips

Though not assigned to a specific HSK level, 現 shares roots with other words that describe time and existence, such as 現在 (xiànzài, 'now') and 現實 (xiànshí, 'reality'). Focus on its role in expressing the present tense and its combinations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 現 with similar characters like 見 (jiàn), which means 'to see.' For example, saying 現在我見 (xiànzài wǒ jiàn) instead of 現在我在 (xiànzài wǒ zài) can lead to misunderstandings. Make sure to use 現 when referencing the present moment.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 現

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Etymology of 現

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

Simplified form of 現.

Memory Hint

To see 見 jade 王; 見 also provides the pronunciation

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

Origin

What kind of character is 現?

Decomposition of 現

IDS Structure⿰王見
現Full Character
=
王Wang2
left
見jian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 現?

How to say to appear, to manifest; current, now in Chinese

“to appear, to manifest; current, now” in Chinese is現xiàn

The character 現 (xiàn) means 'to appear' or 'to manifest,' often used to indicate something that is currently visible or happening. It is commonly found in contexts related to time, such as 'now' or 'present,' and can also refer to current situations or conditions.

When to use 現

Be cautious with the pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but in written forms, it might lean toward more formal usage.

現 or something close to it

现在 (xiànzài) vs 当前 (dāngqián) — use 现 (xiàn) for immediate appearance or manifestation, while 现在 (xiànzài) refers specifically to the current time, and 当前 (dāngqián) emphasizes the current state or situation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 現 with similar characters like 見 (jiàn), which means 'to see.' For example, saying 現在我見 (xiànzài wǒ jiàn) instead of 現在我在 (xiànzài wǒ zài) can lead to misunderstandings. Make sure to use 現 when referencing the present moment.

Write 現

現

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

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Word Family of 現

Words Containing This Character20
现在xiànzàinow現在
发现fāxiànto find發現
出现chūxiànto appear出現
表现biǎoxiànto show表現
现场xiànchǎng(on) the spot現場
实现shíxiànto achieve實現
现实xiànshíreality現實
现xiànnow現
现象xiànxiàngphenomenon現象
现代xiàndàimodern times現代
体现tǐxiànto embody體現
现金xiànjīncash現金
呈现chéngxiànto appear呈現
展现zhǎnxiànto come out展現
现有xiànyǒucurrently existing現有
现代化modernization現代化
现状xiànzhuàngcurrent situation現狀
现行xiànxíngin force現行
现货available item現貨
显现xiǎnxiànappearance顯現
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 現

What does 现在 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 現

You can say 現在我在學習中文 (xiànzài wǒ zài xuéxí zhōngwén), meaning 'Now I am learning Chinese.'

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