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新奇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
新奇xīnqínoveltyHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #12560, Very Hard
新奇xīnqínew and oddHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #12560, Very Hard
xīnqí(xin1qi2)xin qi T1
  1. 1novelty
  2. 2new and odd
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March 24, 2026

新奇xīnqí(xin1qi2)

新奇 (xīnqí) refers to something that is new and unusual, often invoking a sense of surprise or curiosity. It is commonly used to describe experiences, ideas, or objects that stand out due to their uniqueness or freshness, often in a positive context.

Strokes21Frequency#12560DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, new and unique experiences are often highly valued, especially in the context of technology and innovation. The term 新奇 reflects the excitement surrounding new trends and ideas prevalent in modern Chinese society.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'new' (新) creature (奇) that you've never seen before. The '新' is like a shiny new toy, while '奇' can be visualized as a quirky creature, making the combination of '新奇' a vivid image of something both fresh and odd.

Meanings of 新奇

xīnqí(xin1qi2)
1novelty
2new and odd
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 新奇

新奇Simplified
21Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 新奇

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Podcast: 新奇

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AI study notes for 新奇

Quick Contrast

新鲜 (xīnxiān) refers to freshness or novelty in a more literal sense, often used for food or experiences, while 新奇 (xīnqí) emphasizes uniqueness and unusualness.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 新奇 is often used in informal contexts, such as casual conversations or social media, rather than formal writing. Common collocations include 新奇的想法 (novel ideas) or 新奇的经历 (novel experiences). Ensure you use the correct tones to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

As a word that may not yet be categorized under a specific HSK level, learners should focus on understanding its components and usage in various contexts. Connect it with other adjectives like 新 (new) and 奇怪 (strange) to enrich vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 新奇 with 奇怪 (qíguài), which means strange. A common mistake is using 新奇 to describe something that is merely strange without the positive connotation; for example, saying ‘这个地方很新奇’ (This place is very strange) should be corrected to ‘这个地方很奇怪’.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 新奇

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Component characters

新xīnnew
HSK 113 strokes斤
View full entry
奇jīodd (number)
8 strokes大
View full entry

How to say novelty in Chinese

“novelty” in Chinese is新奇xīnqí

新奇 (xīnqí) refers to something that is new and unusual, often invoking a sense of surprise or curiosity. It is commonly used to describe experiences, ideas, or objects that stand out due to their uniqueness or freshness, often in a positive context.

When to use 新奇

Be mindful that 新奇 is often used in informal contexts, such as casual conversations or social media, rather than formal writing. Common collocations include 新奇的想法 (novel ideas) or 新奇的经历 (novel experiences). Ensure you use the correct tones to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding words.

新奇 or something close to it

新鲜 (xīnxiān) refers to freshness or novelty in a more literal sense, often used for food or experiences, while 新奇 (xīnqí) emphasizes uniqueness and unusualness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 新奇 with 奇怪 (qíguài), which means strange. A common mistake is using 新奇 to describe something that is merely strange without the positive connotation; for example, saying ‘这个地方很新奇’ (This place is very strange) should be corrected to ‘这个地方很奇怪’.

Write 新奇

新
奇

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Frequently asked questions about 新奇

No, 新奇 is typically used in informal contexts, so it's best suited for conversations or casual writing.

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