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男性 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
男性nánxìngthe male sexHSK 4, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #2589, Medium
男性nánxìnga maleHSK 4, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #2589, Medium
nánxìng(nan2xing4)nan xing T2
  1. 1the male sex
  2. 2a male
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March 24, 2026

男性nánxìng(nan2xing4)

男性 (nánxìng) refers to the male sex or a male individual. It is commonly used in contexts discussing gender, biology, or social issues related to masculinity.

Strokes15Frequency#2589DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In China, discussions around 男性 often intersect with traditional views on masculinity and the evolving roles of men in society. The concept is significant in debates about gender equality and family dynamics.

Memory Tip

Think of 男 (nán) as a strong man, with the radical for 'man' on the left, and 性 (xìng) representing 'nature' or 'character.' Together, they evoke the image of a man’s inherent qualities. Remember that 男 sounds like 'man' to help with pronunciation.

Meanings of 男性

nánxìng(nan2xing4)
1the male sex
2a male
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About 男性

男性Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

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AI Study Notes for 男性

Quick Contrast

男性 (nánxìng) vs 男子 (nánzǐ) — use 男性 for broader gender contexts, while 男子 specifically refers to a male person.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 男性 is more formal compared to 男 (nán), which is often used in everyday conversation. It commonly appears in discussions about gender studies or demographic reports. Avoid confusing it with 女性 (nǚxìng), which means 'female.'

HSK Study Tips

男性 is not found in the HSK levels but is relevant for students focusing on social sciences or gender discussions. Connecting it with 女性 (nǚxìng) can help learners understand gender-related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 男性 with 性别 (xìngbié, meaning 'gender') and use them interchangeably, which is incorrect. Remember that 男性 specifically denotes males, while 性别 refers to the broader concept of gender.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 男性

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Component Characters

男nánmale
HSK 17 strokes田
View full entry
性xìngnature
HSK 48 strokes忄
View full entry

How to say the male sex in Chinese

“the male sex” in Chinese is男性nánxìng

男性 (nánxìng) refers to the male sex or a male individual. It is commonly used in contexts discussing gender, biology, or social issues related to masculinity.

When to use 男性

Be mindful that 男性 is more formal compared to 男 (nán), which is often used in everyday conversation. It commonly appears in discussions about gender studies or demographic reports. Avoid confusing it with 女性 (nǚxìng), which means 'female.'

男性 or something close to it

男性 (nánxìng) vs 男子 (nánzǐ) — use 男性 for broader gender contexts, while 男子 specifically refers to a male person.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 男性 with 性别 (xìngbié, meaning 'gender') and use them interchangeably, which is incorrect. Remember that 男性 specifically denotes males, while 性别 refers to the broader concept of gender.

Write 男性

男
性

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

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Cultural Notes for 男性

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, discussions around masculinity may focus more on individual identity, whereas in Chinese culture, there is often a stronger emphasis on societal roles and responsibilities associated with being male.

Frequently Asked Questions about 男性

Not commonly; it is more appropriate in formal contexts or written discourse.

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