兴 meaning and stroke order
To thrive, to prosper, to flourish
How to write 兴, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 兴
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- feeling or desire to do sth
- interest in sth
- excitement
- to rise
- to flourish
- to become popular
- to start
- to encourage
- to get up
How 兴 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 八 (eight), shared by 11 characters on this site.
How to remember 兴
Picture 兴 as a little celebration stacked in three layers: three sparks ⺍ on top, a flat line 一 in the middle, and two legs 八 at the bottom. The sparks fly up off the line, like spirits rising, which fits both meanings, interest xìng and to rise xīng.
In fourth tone, xìng is about mood and interest, as in 高兴 (gāoxìng) and 兴趣 (xìngqù). In first tone, xīng means to rise or flourish, as in 新兴 (xīnxīng) and 兴旺 (xīngwàng). Example: 我对中文很感兴趣。(Wǒ duì Zhōngwén hěn gǎn xìngqù.) I am very interested in Chinese.
Common mistake: Learners often read 兴奋 (xīngfèn, excited) with fourth tone because it sounds like an emotion word, but it takes first tone. Also, the top of 兴 is ⺍ with three short strokes. Do not confuse it with the top of 学 (xué), which sits over a cover 冖.
Common words with 兴
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy; glad | HSK 1 |
| 兴趣 | xìngqù | interest (desire to know about sth); interest (thing in which one is interested); hobby | HSK 4 |
| 兴奋 | xīngfèn | excited; excitement | HSK 4 |
| 感兴趣 | gǎn xìngqù | to be interested (in sth) | HSK 4 |
| 新兴 | xīnxīng | (of markets, industries, infectious diseases etc) rising; emerging | HSK 6 |
| 兴旺 | xīngwàng | prosperous; thriving | HSK 6 |
| 扫兴 | sǎoxìng | to spoil things; to dampen spirits; to feel deflated; to be dispirited | HSK 7-9 |
| 兴致 | xìngzhì | mood; spirits | HSK 7-9 |
| 兴起 | xīngqǐ | to rise; to spring up | HSK 7-9 |
| 复兴 | fùxīng | to revive; to rejuvenate | HSK 7-9 |
| 兴奋剂 | xīngfènjì | stimulant; doping (in athletics) | HSK 7-9 |
| 兴建 | xīngjiàn | to build; to construct | HSK 7-9 |
| 兴高采烈 | xìnggāo-cǎiliè | happy and excited (idiom); in high spirits | HSK 7-9 |
| 振兴 | zhènxīng | to revive; to revitalize; to invigorate; to re-energize | HSK 7-9 |
兴 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 兴
Learning 兴 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 兴
How many strokes are in 兴?
兴 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 兴 mean?
兴 (xìng) means to thrive, to prosper, to flourish. A common word with it is 高兴 (gāoxìng), meaning "happy; glad".
How do you pronounce 兴?
兴 is pronounced xìng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 兴?
The radical of 兴 is 八, which carries the idea of "eight". Dictionaries list 兴 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 兴?
The traditional form of 兴 is 興. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 兴 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 兴 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 兴 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
How do I know whether 兴 is read xìng or xīng?
Use xìng for interest, mood or fun, as in 兴趣, 兴致 and 扫兴. Use xīng for rising, starting or prospering, as in 兴旺 and 新兴. 兴奋 is the common exception to memorize, since it is about feelings but is read xīng.
What is the difference between 高兴 and 开心?
Both mean happy and are often interchangeable. 高兴 (gāoxìng) is very common for being glad about something, as in 认识你很高兴 (nice to meet you). 开心 (kāixīn) leans a bit more toward having fun or feeling cheerful.