Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
羡(羨)xiàn(xian4)
The character 羡 (xiàn) primarily means to feel envy or admiration towards someone else's achievements or possessions. It is often used in contexts where one expresses a longing for what another person has, whether it be success, wealth, or qualities. The nuance can range from mild admiration to deep covetousness, depending on the context.
Strokes12Radical羊Frequency#40383DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing envy can be nuanced; while it may sometimes be seen as a compliment, it can also imply a lack of humility. The saying '羡慕嫉妒恨' (xiànmù jídù hèn), meaning 'envy, jealousy, and hatred,' reflects the complexity of feelings associated with admiration and rivalry.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person with a green 'envy' monster sitting on their shoulder, whispering about all the things they wish they had. The character 羡 looks like a person with a heart (the left side) who is admiring something above them (the right side), representing the feeling of longing and admiration.
Meanings of 羡
xiàn(xian4)
1to envy
2to envy, to covet; to admire, to praise
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 羡
羡Simplified
羨Traditional
12Strokes
羊Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#40383Frequency Rank
Podcast: 羡
Podcast: 羡
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 羡
Quick Contrast
羡 (xiàn) vs 嫉 (jí) — use 羡 to express admiration or envy without malice, while 嫉 conveys jealousy or resentment.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person with a green 'envy' monster sitting on their shoulder, whispering about all the things they wish they had. The character 羡 looks like a person with a heart (the left side) who is admiring something above them (the right side), representing the feeling of longing and admiration.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 羡 with similar verbs like 爱 (ài) meaning 'love' or 喜欢 (xǐhuān) meaning 'like,' which can lead to under-expressing the nuance of envy. The tone is crucial; be careful to pronounce it with the fourth tone (xiàn) and not confuse it with other similar-sounding characters. Common collocations include 羡慕 (xiànmù) which means 'to admire' or 'to envy.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 羡 is not specifically in the HSK curriculum, it relates to emotions and interpersonal relationships, important themes in HSK vocabulary. Students should focus on its usage in expressing feelings and compare it with other emotional verbs they learn at this level.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing envy can be nuanced; while it may sometimes be seen as a compliment, it can also imply a lack of humility. The saying '羡慕嫉妒恨' (xiànmù jídù hèn), meaning 'envy, jealousy, and hatred,' reflects the complexity of feelings associated with admiration and rivalry.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 羡 in a purely positive context, like saying '我羡慕他的才华' (Wǒ xiànmù tā de cáihuá) without understanding it implies a sense of envy. To express pure admiration, consider using 赞赏 (zànshǎng) instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 羡
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 羡 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 羡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 羡
羡 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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.
Anita envied her sister's amorality and contempt for public opinion.
Cultural Notes for 羡
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing envy can be nuanced; while it may sometimes be seen as a compliment, it can also imply a lack of humility. The saying '羡慕嫉妒恨' (xiànmù jídù hèn), meaning 'envy, jealousy, and hatred,' reflects the complexity of feelings associated with admiration and rivalry.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, envy is often viewed negatively and associated with personal failure, while in Chinese culture, it can be seen as a motivation to improve oneself, albeit with caution regarding how openly one expresses such feelings.
Word Family of 羡
Words Containing This Character7
羡慕xiànmùto envy羨慕
羡xiànto envy羨
艳羡to envy艷羨
季羡林Ji Xianlin (1911-2009), Chinese linguist and Indologist季羨林
惊羡to marvel at驚羨
临渊羡鱼one should take practical steps to achieve one's aim臨淵羨魚
钦羡to admire欽羨
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 羡慕 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 羡
While 羡 (xiàn) means to admire or envy someone for what they have, 嫉妒 (jí dù) refers to jealousy, which often includes negative feelings towards someone else's success or possessions. In essence, 羡 is more about admiration, while 嫉妒 carries a more negative connotation.
Yes, 羡 (xiàn) can certainly be used in a positive context. For example, when you admire someone's talent or achievements, using 羡 shows appreciation rather than negativity. It highlights a positive longing for qualities you admire in others.
羡 (xiàn) means to envy or to admire. It conveys a sense of longing for something that someone else has, often accompanied by admiration for their qualities or possessions. This character can also imply a desire to possess what another person has.
You can use 羡 (xiàn) in a sentence to express admiration or envy. For example, '我羡慕他的成功' (Wǒ xiànmù tā de chénggōng) means 'I envy his success.' This shows both admiration for the person's achievement and a desire to have similar success.
You can say '我羡慕他的成功' (Wǒ xiànmù tā de chénggōng), meaning 'I envy his success.'
It can be both; it may express admiration or a negative desire for what someone else has, depending on the context.
Yes, but it is often more closely associated with envy, so consider using it with context that clarifies your intention.
