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March 24, 2026
辛Xīn(Xin1)
The character 辛 (xīn) primarily conveys meanings associated with the concepts of hardship and flavor. It can refer to the pungent taste found in foods like garlic and onions, as well as describe experiences that are laborious or challenging. Additionally, it represents the eighth position in the Heavenly Stems used in traditional Chinese astrology and can denote the number eight in various contexts.
Strokes7Radical辛Frequency#6675DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, 辛 flavors are believed to stimulate the body's Yang energy and promote digestion. This character is often associated with the heat in spicy foods, which hold a significant place in Chinese cuisine, particularly in regions like Sichuan.
Memory tip
Imagine a spicy chili pepper (辛) that represents both heat (pungent taste) and the hard work (辛) of growing it in a garden. The character itself has sharp edges, resembling the sharpness of its taste, while the pronunciation 'xīn' sounds like 'sin,' which could remind you of the toilsome nature of enduring hardships.
Meanings of 辛
Xīn(Xin1)
1(of taste) hot or pungent
2hard
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About 辛
辛Simplified
7Strokes
辛Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#6675Frequency Rank
Podcast: 辛
Podcast: 辛
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AI study notes for 辛
Quick Contrast
辛 (xīn, pungent) vs 苦 (kǔ, bitter) — choose 辛 when referring to a sharp, spicy flavor, while 苦 indicates a more unpleasant, harsh taste.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context in which you use 辛, as it can refer to both taste and labor. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as 心 (xīn, meaning heart). When describing food, use 辛 in conjunction with other taste descriptors for clarity.
HSK Study Tips
Although 辛 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to taste and emotions. Focus on recognizing its use in culinary contexts and traditional Chinese culture, particularly in discussions about food and suffering.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 辛 with 込 (kòng), leading to incorrect meanings like 'to enter' instead of 'hard.' It's important to remember the context and pronunciation differences to avoid such errors.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 辛
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The character 辛 (xīn) primarily conveys meanings associated with the concepts of hardship and flavor. It can refer to the pungent taste found in foods like garlic and onions, as well as describe experiences that are laborious or challenging. Additionally, it represents the eighth position in the Heavenly Stems used in traditional Chinese astrology and can denote the number eight in various contexts.
When to use 辛
Be mindful of the context in which you use 辛, as it can refer to both taste and labor. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings, such as 心 (xīn, meaning heart). When describing food, use 辛 in conjunction with other taste descriptors for clarity.
辛 or something close to it
辛 (xīn, pungent) vs 苦 (kǔ, bitter) — choose 辛 when referring to a sharp, spicy flavor, while 苦 indicates a more unpleasant, harsh taste.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 辛 with 込 (kòng), leading to incorrect meanings like 'to enter' instead of 'hard.' It's important to remember the context and pronunciation differences to avoid such errors.
Write 辛
辛
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Grammar patterns of 辛
辛 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 12 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.
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Cultural Notes for 辛
💡Did you know?
The character 辛 is not only used to describe hardship but also has historical significance as it represents the eighth Heavenly Stem in ancient Chinese cosmology, which was used for calendrical and astrological purposes.
Word Family of 辛
Compounds34
辩biànto dispute
辣làold variant of 辣[là]
辞cíold variant of 辭
辜gūsurname Gu
宰zǎito slaughter livestock
辨biànto distinguish
辫biàna braid or queue
瓣bànpetal
辟bìking
锌xīnzinc
梓zǐCatalpa ovata
骍xīng
莘shēnnumerous, long; a marsh plant with a medicinal root
乵yǎn
厗tístone, mineral; antimony
屖xī
垶xīng
峷shēn
觪xīng
辝cí
辠zuì
辡biàn
辢là
辤cí
辥xuēa variety of marsh grass
辦bànto set up; to manage, to run; to deal with, to handle
辧biàn
辪xuē
辬bān
辭cíwords, speech; to resign, to take leave
辮biànbraid, pigtail, plait; queue
辯biànto argue, to dispute; to discuss, to debate
鋅xīnzinc
騂xīng
Words containing this character18
辛苦xīnkǔhard
辛Xīnhard
艰辛jiānxīnhardships艱辛
辛普森xīnpǔsēnSimpson (name)
辛勤xīnqínhardworking
辛辛苦苦xīnxīnkǔkǔpainstakingly
辛酸xīnsuānbitter
辛辛那提xīnxīnnàtíCincinnati, Ohio
辛辣xīnlàspicy hot (taste)
辛劳xīnláolaborious辛勞
千辛万苦qiānxīnwànkǔwith difficulty千辛萬苦
辛格xīngéSingh (name)
辛亥革命xīnhàigémìngXinhai Revolution (1911), which ended the Qing Dynasty
赫尔辛基hè’ěrxīnjīHelsinki (Swedish Helsingfors), capital of Finland赫爾辛基
施瓦辛格shīwǎxīngéArnold Schwarzenegger (1947-), US actor and politician, governor of California 2003-2011
奥斯威辛àosīwēixīnAuschwitz (concentration camp)奧斯威辛
基辛格jīxīngéHenry Kissinger (1923-), US academic and politician, Secretary of State 1973-1977
含辛茹苦hánxīnrúkǔto bear one's cross
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 辛
What does 辩 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 辛
In Chinese culture, 辛 is significant as it represents the concept of hard work and suffering. It is also part of the traditional calendar system, where it corresponds to specific elements and energies associated with the eighth position in the Heavenly Stems.
Yes, 辛 (Xīn) is a recognized surname in China, though it is not among the most common. Like many Chinese surnames, it carries historical significance and is associated with various cultural references.
辛 (xīn) has several meanings in Chinese. It can refer to laborious work or suffering, and it is also used as a surname. Additionally, 辛 is the eighth character in the Heavenly Stems system, which is used in traditional Chinese culture.
To use 辛 in a sentence, you could refer to its meaning related to hardship or labor. For example, you might say '这份工作很辛苦' (zhè fèn gōngzuò hěn xīnkǔ), meaning 'This job is very laborious.' It can also be used in contexts relating to the Heavenly Stems.
Words like 辛辣 (xīn là, meaning spicy) and 辛苦 (xīn kǔ, meaning hardship) often use the character 辛.
In traditional Chinese astrology, 辛 is the eighth of the ten Heavenly Stems and is often used in conjunction with the twelve Earthly Branches to form a cycle.
Yes, 辛 can also describe laborious or suffering experiences, indicating a broader application beyond just culinary contexts.
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