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興 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
興xìngto thrive, to prosper, to flourishzg, 16 strokes, radical 臼
xìng(xing4)xing T4
  1. 1to thrive, to prosper, to flourish
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March 24, 2026

興xìng(xing4)

The character 興 (xìng) conveys the idea of thriving or flourishing, often in contexts related to growth, prosperity, or excitement. It is commonly used when discussing economic conditions, personal development, or lively events, indicating a positive and flourishing state.

Strokes16Radical臼
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of flourishing is linked to auspiciousness and success, often celebrated during festivals like the Lunar New Year, where wishes for prosperity and growth are common.

Memory tip

Imagine a bustling marketplace where people are thriving and flourishing, symbolizing the vibrancy of life. The character 興 has the radical for 'to move' (走) at the bottom, representing dynamic growth, while the upper part suggests a sense of elevation, like something rising or blossoming.

Meanings of 興

xìng(xing4)
1to thrive, to prosper, to flourish
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 興 means.

About 興

興Simplified
16Strokes
臼Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 興

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Podcast: 興

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AI study notes for 興

Quick Contrast

興 (xìng) vs 旺 (wàng) — choose 興 when emphasizing excitement or liveliness, while 旺 focuses more on prosperity or success.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone of this word; 'xìng' (兴) is the correct pronunciation, while 'xīng' means 'star,' which can lead to confusion. This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when describing prosperous times or events, such as '兴旺' (xìngwàng) meaning 'to thrive' or 'prosperous.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 興 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it shares thematic connections with other HSK words related to growth and prosperity, such as 发 (fā, to develop) and 成长 (chéngzhǎng, to grow up). Students should focus on recognizing the character's components and its usage in phrases.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 興 (xìng) with 兴 (xīng), resulting in mispronunciations that can change meanings. For example, using 'xīng' in contexts meant for 'xìng' can lead to misunderstandings about prosperity versus stars.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 興

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Etymology of 興

Explanation

Depicts four hands (舁) working together (同) to raise something. The simplified character 兴 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 興.

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Decomposition of 興

IDS Structure⿱⿻臼?八
興Full character
=
臼jiu4
outer
八ba1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 興?

How to say to thrive, to prosper, to flourish in Chinese

“to thrive, to prosper, to flourish” in Chinese is興xìng

The character 興 (xìng) conveys the idea of thriving or flourishing, often in contexts related to growth, prosperity, or excitement. It is commonly used when discussing economic conditions, personal development, or lively events, indicating a positive and flourishing state.

When to use 興

Be cautious with the tone of this word; 'xìng' (兴) is the correct pronunciation, while 'xīng' means 'star,' which can lead to confusion. This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when describing prosperous times or events, such as '兴旺' (xìngwàng) meaning 'to thrive' or 'prosperous.'

興 or something close to it

興 (xìng) vs 旺 (wàng) — choose 興 when emphasizing excitement or liveliness, while 旺 focuses more on prosperity or success.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 興 (xìng) with 兴 (xīng), resulting in mispronunciations that can change meanings. For example, using 'xīng' in contexts meant for 'xìng' can lead to misunderstandings about prosperity versus stars.

Write 興

興

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

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Word Family of 興

Words containing this character20
高兴gāoxìnghappy高興
兴趣xìngqùhobby興趣
兴奋xīngfènexcited興奮
兴Xīngto rise興
感兴趣gǎnxìngqùto be interested感興趣
新兴xīnxīngemerging新興
兴建xīngjiànto build興建
有兴趣interested有興趣
兴起xīngqǐto rise興起
振兴zhènxīngto revive振興
复兴fùxīngFuxing district of Handan city 邯鄲市|邯郸市[Hán​dān​shì], Hebei復興
中兴resurgence中興
兴奋剂xīngfènjìstimulant興奮劑
兴致xìngzhìmood興致
绍兴Shaoxing prefecture level city in Zhejiang紹興
即兴impromptu即興
兴办to begin興辦
尽兴to enjoy oneself to the full盡興
扫兴sǎoxìngto feel disappointed掃興
兴旺xīngwàngprosperous興旺
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 興

What does 高兴 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 興

Make sure to use the fourth tone: xìng (兴), which indicates a downward pitch.

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