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March 24, 2026
鮮xiān(xian1)
The character 鮮 (xiān) primarily means 'fresh,' commonly used to describe food that is newly caught or harvested, such as fish and vegetables. It can also imply 'delicious' or 'attractive,' often used in contexts where something is appealing or vibrant.
Strokes17Radical魚Frequency#55004DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, freshness is paramount, especially in seafood dishes. The emphasis on 鮮 reflects the cultural value placed on quality ingredients and their preparation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a brightly colored fish (鮮) swimming in clear water, fresh from the ocean. The fish's vibrant colors represent its freshness and deliciousness, helping you remember that 鮮 (xiān) relates to something appealing and fresh.
Meanings of 鮮
xiān(xian1)
1fresh; delicious; attractive
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 鮮
鮮Simplified
17Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鮮
Podcast: 鮮
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AI Study Notes for 鮮
Quick Contrast
鲜 (xiān) vs 新鲜 (xīnxiān): use 鲜 (xiān) for specific freshness in taste or appearance, while 新鲜 (xīnxiān) emphasizes newness or recentness.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a brightly colored fish (鮮) swimming in clear water, fresh from the ocean. The fish's vibrant colors represent its freshness and deliciousness, helping you remember that 鮮 (xiān) relates to something appealing and fresh.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 鮮 (xiān) with 先 (xiān), which means 'first' or 'before.' It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but is especially prevalent in culinary discussions, such as 鮮美 (xiān měi) meaning 'delicious.'
HSK Study Tips
While 鮮 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it is beneficial to connect it with HSK Level 3 words like 好吃 (hǎo chī - tasty) and 新鲜 (xīnxiān - fresh). Focus on using it in descriptive phrases related to food and experiences.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, freshness is paramount, especially in seafood dishes. The emphasis on 鮮 reflects the cultural value placed on quality ingredients and their preparation.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 鮮 (xiān) with 先 (xiān), leading to incorrect usage in contexts. For example, saying 鮮上 (xiān shàng) instead of 先上 (xiān shàng) when trying to mean 'first' in a sequence is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鮮
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Cultural Notes for 鮮
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, freshness is paramount, especially in seafood dishes. The emphasis on 鮮 reflects the cultural value placed on quality ingredients and their preparation.
Word Family of 鮮
Words Containing This Character20
新鲜xīnxiānfreshness新鮮
朝鲜North Korea朝鮮
鲜xiānfresh鮮
鲜血xiānxuèblood鮮血
鲜花xiānhuāflower鮮花
鲜明xiānmíngbright鮮明
海鲜hǎixiānseafood海鮮
鲜活xiānhuóvivid鮮活
鲜艳xiānyànbright-colored鮮艷
朝鲜半岛Korean Peninsula朝鮮半島
鲜奶fresh milk鮮奶
鲜美xiānměidelicious鮮美
鲜红scarlet鮮紅
鲜为人知secret to all but a few鮮為人知
南朝鲜South Korea南朝鮮
屡见不鲜a common occurrence (idiom)屢見不鮮
光鲜bright and neat光鮮
鲜卑Xianbei or Xianbi, group of northern nomadic peoples鮮卑
鲜亮vivid鮮亮
旗帜鲜明to show one's colors旗幟鮮明
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 新鲜 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鮮
You can say 鮮魚很好吃 (xiān yú hěn hǎo chī) which means 'fresh fish is very delicious.'
鮮 (xiān) often emphasizes taste and appeal, while 新鲜 (xīnxiān) primarily means 'fresh' in terms of being new or not spoiled.
Yes, 鮮 can describe attractive or vibrant things, such as 鮮花 (xiān huā - fresh flowers) or 鮮豔 (xiān yàn - bright colors).
