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性 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
性
xìng
nature
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
character
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
property
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
quality
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
attribute
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
sexuality
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
sex
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
gender
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
suffix forming adjective from verb
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
suffix forming noun from adjective, corresponding to -ness or -ity
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
essence
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
性
xìng
sex, nature, character; suffix converting a verb to an adjective
HSK 4, n, 8 strokes, radical 忄, rank #702, Medium
xìng(xing4)xing T4
1nature
2character
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March 24, 2026
性xìng(xing4)
The character 性 (xìng) refers to nature, character, or quality, and is often used to describe attributes or properties of a person or thing. It is also used in contexts related to sexuality or gender, making it a versatile term in discussions about personal identity and characteristics.
Strokes8Radical忄Frequency#702DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 性 encompasses not only biological aspects but also philosophical ideas about human nature and character, often discussed in Confucianism and traditional Chinese medicine.
Memory tip
Visualize a 'nature scene' where the 'x' in 'xìng' stands for 'eXperience' and the 'ing' part reminds you of the 'essence' of that experience. The character itself combines the radical for 'heart' (心) and the sound component, hinting at the inner qualities or traits that define a person.
Meanings of 性
xìng(xing4)
1nature
2character
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 性 means.
About 性
性Simplified
8Strokes
忄Radical
后接成分suffix-forming morpheme (suff.)Part of Speech
#702Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L4TOCFLL3
Podcast: 性
Podcast: 性
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AI study notes for 性
Quick Contrast
性 (xìng) vs 特性 (tèxìng) — use 性 for general nature or character, but 特性 specifically refers to distinctive or unique characteristics.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 性 with similar sounding words like 行 (xíng), which means 'to walk' or 'to perform'. In formal settings, 性 is often used in psychological or sociological contexts, while in informal conversations, it can relate more to personal traits and relationships. Common collocations include 性格 (xìnggé - personality) and 性别 (xìngbié - gender).
HSK Study Tips
Although 性 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to other HSK words related to personality and attributes, such as 性格 (xìnggé). Focus on its usage in forming adjectives and nouns, as well as its application in discussions about personal identity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 性 when referring specifically to 'sex' in a biological context, mistakenly using it in casual conversations about relationships. Instead, use 性别 (xìngbié) for gender-related discussions.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 性
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Example
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Knowing 性 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
性 = 忄 + 生. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 性
IDS Structure⿰忄生
性Full character
=
忄xin1
left
生sheng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 性?
How to say nature in Chinese
“nature” in Chinese is性xìng
The character 性 (xìng) refers to nature, character, or quality, and is often used to describe attributes or properties of a person or thing. It is also used in contexts related to sexuality or gender, making it a versatile term in discussions about personal identity and characteristics.
When to use 性
Be careful not to confuse 性 with similar sounding words like 行 (xíng), which means 'to walk' or 'to perform'. In formal settings, 性 is often used in psychological or sociological contexts, while in informal conversations, it can relate more to personal traits and relationships. Common collocations include 性格 (xìnggé - personality) and 性别 (xìngbié - gender).
性 or something close to it
性 (xìng) vs 特性 (tèxìng) — use 性 for general nature or character, but 特性 specifically refers to distinctive or unique characteristics.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 性 when referring specifically to 'sex' in a biological context, mistakenly using it in casual conversations about relationships. Instead, use 性别 (xìngbié) for gender-related discussions.
Write 性
性
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Practice writing 性 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 性
性 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.
The design of this phone is very unique, attracting many young people.
16
他的性格有很强的独立性，总是自己做决定。
Tā de xìnggé yǒu hěn qiáng de dúlìxìng, zǒng shì zìjǐ zuò juédìng.
His character has a strong sense of independence, and he always makes his own decisions.
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Cultural Notes for 性
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the concept of 性 encompasses not only biological aspects but also social and personal attributes. This reflects a holistic view of identity.
📜Proverb
A common saying in Chinese is 性格决定命运 (xìnggé juédìng mìngyùn), meaning 'Character determines destiny.' It emphasizes the impact of personal attributes on one's life path.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While in Western cultures, discussions about sex and gender may focus heavily on individual identity, in Chinese culture, 性 is often intertwined with social roles and familial expectations.
Word Family of 性
Words containing this character20
性xìngnature
女性nǚxìngwoman
性感xìnggǎnsex appeal
同性恋tóngxìngliànhomosexuality同性戀
个性gèxìngindividuality個性
男性nánxìnga male
可能性kěnéngxìngpossibility
性格xìnggénature
性能xìngnéngfunction
性质xìngzhìnature性質
理性lǐxìngreason
性命xìngmìnglife
性爱xìng’àisex性愛
人性rénxìnghuman nature
异性yìxìngthe opposite sex異性
阳性yángxìngpositive陽性
特性tèxìngproperty
活性huóxìngactive
性别xìngbiégender性別
积极性jījíxìngzeal積極性
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 性
What does 女性 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 性
性 (xìng) refers to inherent nature or qualities, while 性格 (xìnggé) specifically means personality or character traits. In essence, 性 is broader and can refer to physical attributes or sexuality, whereas 性格 is more focused on behavioral and psychological aspects.
Yes, 性 (xìng) can refer to aspects of sexuality, including sexual orientation. In discussions about relationships or identity, it is often used in terms like '性倾向' (xìng qīngxiàng), which means 'sexual orientation.' Understanding its usage in context is important for clarity.
性 (xìng) has several meanings in Chinese, including nature, character, property, quality, and attribute. It is often used to describe inherent traits or characteristics of a person or thing. Additionally, 性 can refer to sexuality or sexual characteristics in certain contexts.
To use 性 (xìng) in a sentence, you can describe someone's qualities or characteristics by saying something like '他的性格非常温和' (Tā de xìnggé fēicháng wēnhé), which means 'His character is very gentle.' You can also use it in terms related to sexuality, such as '性别' (xìngbié), meaning 'gender.'
In psychology, 性 often refers to personality traits or characteristics that define a person's behavior and emotional patterns.
Yes, 性 is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about character and attributes.
You can use 性 in phrases like 性格很开朗 (xìnggé hěn kāilǎng), meaning 'the personality is very cheerful'.
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