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March 24, 2026
县(縣)xiàn(xian4)
The character 县 (xiàn) refers to a county or a district in administrative terms, commonly used when discussing the divisions of a province or city in China. It is often seen in governmental contexts, geographical discussions, and local administration.
Strokes7Radical厶Frequency#6036DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, the county system is a significant part of local governance, with deep historical roots in the imperial administrative structure. Many cultural festivals and local governance issues are tied to the identity of counties.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small town square surrounded by a fence (县 looks like a fence with a roof), representing a county where local governance happens. The pronunciation 'xiàn' can be remembered by thinking of 'cents' you save in your county's bank.
Meanings of 县
xiàn(xian4)
1county
2county, district, subdivision
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 县
县Simplified
縣Traditional
7Strokes
厶Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#6036Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 县
Podcast: 县
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AI Study Notes for 县
Quick Contrast
区 (qū) — use 县 for administrative divisions that are larger than districts.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 县 with 市 (shì), which means 'city.' 县 is typically used in more rural contexts. It is often paired with other terms like 乡 (xiāng) for town or 镇 (zhèn) for town, so understanding these collocations can help convey more precise meanings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 县 is a useful term to know when discussing administrative divisions in China. Students should focus on its usage in the context of local governance and geography, as well as its collocations to build vocabulary around administrative topics.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 县 with 市 (shì) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我住在这个市' (Wǒ zhù zài zhège shì) when referring to a county instead of '县' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 县
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Simplified form of 縣. Pictograph of a severed head (首) hanging on a rope (系) from a tree (木). Based on the original meaning "hang" or "suspend". The current meaning is a phonetic loan. The traditional component 系 was removed for simplification.
Simplified form of 縣. Pictograph of a severed head (首) hanging on a rope (系) from a tree (木). Based on the original meaning "hang" or "suspend". The current meaning is a phonetic loan. The traditional component 系 was removed for simplification.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Decomposition of 县
IDS Structure⿱且厶
县Full Character
=
且qie3
top
厶mou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 县?
How to say county in Chinese
“county” in Chinese is县xiàn
The character 县 (xiàn) refers to a county or a district in administrative terms, commonly used when discussing the divisions of a province or city in China. It is often seen in governmental contexts, geographical discussions, and local administration.
When to use 县
Be careful not to confuse 县 with 市 (shì), which means 'city.' 县 is typically used in more rural contexts. It is often paired with other terms like 乡 (xiāng) for town or 镇 (zhèn) for town, so understanding these collocations can help convey more precise meanings.
县 or something close to it
区 (qū) — use 县 for administrative divisions that are larger than districts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 县 with 市 (shì) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我住在这个市' (Wǒ zhù zài zhège shì) when referring to a county instead of '县' is incorrect.
Write 县
县
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Practice writing 县 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 县
县 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他可能是这个____里最遭人憎恨的人.
He's probably the most hated man in this county.
Example Sentences for 县 (10)
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1
他可能是这个县里最遭人憎恨的人.
tā kě néng shì zhè gè xiàn lǐ zuì zāo rén zēng hèn de rén.
