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March 24, 2026
清晨qīngchén(qing1chen2)
清晨 (qīng chén) refers to the early morning hours, typically characterized by a sense of freshness and tranquility. It is often used to describe the time when the day begins, and many people find it a peaceful moment for reflection or exercise.
Strokes22Frequency#8082DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 清晨 is often associated with practices like tai chi, meditation, or early morning market visits, reflecting a lifestyle that values harmony with nature and a healthy beginning to the day.
Memory Tip
Imagine a clear morning (清) where the air is fresh and crisp (晨). Visualize yourself waking up early, breathing in the fresh air, and feeling rejuvenated. This imagery connects the characters to the feeling of a serene early morning.
Meanings of 清晨
qīngchén(qing1chen2)
1early morning
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 清晨
清晨Simplified
22Strokes
—Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#8082Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 清晨
Podcast: 清晨
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AI Study Notes for 清晨
Quick Contrast
晨曦 (chénxī) vs 清晨 (qīngchén): use 清晨 for the time of day, while 晨曦 refers specifically to the light of the early morning.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 清晨; it should be said with a rising tone on both characters. Common collocations include 清晨的阳光 (the sunlight of the early morning) and 在清晨 (in the early morning). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where simpler terms like 早上 (zǎoshang) might be more appropriate.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 清晨 connects with other time-related vocabulary. Focus on using it in sentences that describe daily routines or activities that occur in the morning, as this will help reinforce your understanding of time in Mandarin.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 清晨 with 早上 and use them interchangeably in all contexts. For example, saying '我早上去跑步' instead of '我清晨去跑步' can lose the nuance of early morning tranquility that 清晨 conveys.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 清晨
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How Well Do You Know 清晨?
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Knowing 清晨 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
清晨 (qīng chén) refers to the early morning hours, typically characterized by a sense of freshness and tranquility. It is often used to describe the time when the day begins, and many people find it a peaceful moment for reflection or exercise.
When to use 清晨
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 清晨; it should be said with a rising tone on both characters. Common collocations include 清晨的阳光 (the sunlight of the early morning) and 在清晨 (in the early morning). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where simpler terms like 早上 (zǎoshang) might be more appropriate.
清晨 or something close to it
晨曦 (chénxī) vs 清晨 (qīngchén): use 清晨 for the time of day, while 晨曦 refers specifically to the light of the early morning.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 清晨 with 早上 and use them interchangeably in all contexts. For example, saying '我早上去跑步' instead of '我清晨去跑步' can lose the nuance of early morning tranquility that 清晨 conveys.
Write 清晨
清
晨
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Grammar Patterns of 清晨
清晨 carries one core meaning. 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
纽约____的空气会冷得让人难以忍受。
The early-morning New York air can be brutally cold.
Example Sentences for 清晨 (11)
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1
纽约清晨的空气会冷得让人难以忍受。
niǔ yuē qīng chén de kōng qì huì lěng dé ràng rén nán yǐ rěn shòu。
The early-morning New York air can be brutally cold.
At five in the early morning, a faint light begins to appear on the horizon, heralding the start of a new day.
11
在清晨的静谧中，我坐在阳台上，手捧一杯热茶，享受片刻的宁静。
Zài qīngchén de jìngmì zhōng, wǒ zuò zài yángtái shàng, shǒu pěng yī bēi rè chá, xiǎngshòu piànkè de níngjìng.
In the serenity of the early morning, I sit on the balcony, holding a cup of hot tea, enjoying a moment of peace.
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Frequently Asked Questions about 清晨
While both refer to morning, 清晨 specifically emphasizes the early part of the morning, often invoking a more serene quality than the more general term 早上.
You can say, '我喜欢在清晨去散步' (I like to go for a walk in the early morning).
Yes, 清晨 tends to be used in more literary or poetic contexts, whereas 早上 is more common in everyday conversation.
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