HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
easy
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
gentle
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
soft
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
reckless
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
unimportant
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
frivolous
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
small in number
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
unstressed
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
neutral
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
to disparage
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
轻
qīng
light, gentle; simple, easy
HSK 4, a, 9 strokes, radical 车, rank #2037, Medium
qīng(qing1) T1
1light
2easy
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March 24, 2026
轻(輕)qīng(qing1)
The character 轻 (qīng) primarily means 'light' in terms of weight, but it also signifies ease or gentleness. It can describe something that is not serious or important, as well as refer to a light-hearted attitude or a lack of intensity in various contexts, such as emotions or tasks.
Strokes9Radical车Frequency#2037DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 轻 often relates to a philosophy of simplicity and ease, which is reflected in traditional practices like Tai Chi, emphasizing gentle movements and a light-hearted approach to life.
Memory Tip
Imagine holding a feather—it's 轻 (qīng) because it feels almost weightless. The character has a soft, flowing appearance, resembling the gentle way a feather floats down, which helps you remember both its sound and its meaning.
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AI Study Notes for 轻
Quick Contrast
轻 (qīng) vs 轻松 (qīngsōng) — use 轻 for describing weight or seriousness, while 轻松 emphasizes ease or relaxation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine holding a feather—it's 轻 (qīng) because it feels almost weightless. The character has a soft, flowing appearance, resembling the gentle way a feather floats down, which helps you remember both its sound and its meaning.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 轻 with 重 (zhòng), which means 'heavy'. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful with collocations like 轻松 (qīngsōng - relaxed) or 轻视 (qīngshì - to belittle). Remember that the pronunciation is critical; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 4 word, 轻 connects well with other adjectives and expressions of weight or intensity, such as 重 (heavy) or 快 (fast). Focus on using it in sentences that describe feelings or physical objects to deepen your understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 轻 often relates to a philosophy of simplicity and ease, which is reflected in traditional practices like Tai Chi, emphasizing gentle movements and a light-hearted approach to life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 轻 with its antonym 重. For example, saying '这个包很轻重' (zhège bāo hěn qīngzhòng) is incorrect. The correct expression would be '这个包很重' (zhège bāo hěn zhòng) for 'this bag is heavy'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 轻
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Grammar Patterns of 轻
轻 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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.
Young players have got to be the way forward for every club.
Cultural Notes for 轻
💡Did you know?
'轻' is often used in various Chinese idioms, such as '轻言轻语' (speak lightly), which advises speaking gently and carefully.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of being 轻 often relates to a philosophy of simplicity and ease, which is reflected in traditional practices like Tai Chi, emphasizing gentle movements and a light-hearted approach to life.
Word Family of 轻
Words Containing This Character20
年轻niánqīngyoung年輕
轻松qīngsōnglight輕鬆
轻qīnglight輕
年轻人young people年輕人
轻易qīngyìeasily輕易
轻轻lightly輕輕
减轻jiǎnqīngto lighten減輕
轻微qīngwēislight輕微
轻度mild (symptoms etc)輕度
轻而易举qīng’éryìjǔeasy輕而易舉
轻声quietly輕聲
轻视qīngshìcontempt輕視
轻柔soft輕柔
轻盈graceful輕盈
轻薄frivolous輕薄
轻伤lightly wounded輕傷
举足轻重jǔzúqīngzhònginfluential舉足輕重
轻巧deft輕巧
轻型qīngxínglight (machinery, aircraft etc)輕型
轻率cavalier輕率
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 年轻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 轻
轻 (qīng) means 'light' while 重 (zhòng) means 'heavy.' They are antonyms and are often used to describe weight or importance. For instance, you might say '这本书很轻' for 'This book is light,' contrasting it with '这本书很重' for 'This book is heavy.'
Yes, 轻 (qīng) is often used in idiomatic expressions such as '轻而易举' which means 'easily' or 'with little effort.' Understanding these expressions can enhance your fluency and comprehension in Chinese. It’s a versatile word that appears in various contexts.
轻 (qīng) means 'light' in terms of weight, but it can also refer to something that is easy, gentle, or soft. Additionally, it can denote a sense of being unimportant or reckless depending on the context. Understanding its various meanings can help you use it appropriately in conversation.
You can use 轻 (qīng) in a sentence to describe something that is light or easy. For example, '这个包很轻' means 'This bag is very light.' Or you might say '这件事情很轻松' to mean 'This matter is very easy.' Using it in context will help convey the right meaning.
Common phrases include 轻松 (qīngsōng - relaxed) and 轻视 (qīngshì - to belittle), which highlight different contexts of the word's meaning.
No, 轻 can also describe emotional states, attitudes, or actions, indicating something that is easy or not serious.
