惺 meaning and stroke order
Intelligent, clever, astute
How to write 惺, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 惺
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (literary) to come to one's senses; to awaken
- (literary) astute; sharp-witted
How 惺 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A brilliant 星 mind 忄; 星 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 忄 (heart), shared by 167 characters on this site.
How to remember 惺
惺 combines the heart radical 忄, which stands for the mind, with 星 (xīng, star). Picture a mind shining like a bright star, clear and sharp, and 星 also gives you the sound xīng.
惺 rarely appears alone in modern Chinese. It is literary when it means awake or sharp-witted. Most learners meet it in the set phrase 假惺惺 (jiǎxīngxīng), which describes fake sympathy or a show of kindness. Example: 别假惺惺地关心我。(Bié jiǎxīngxīng de guānxīn wǒ.) Don't pretend to care about me.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 惺 with 醒 (xǐng, to wake up), because they look and sound alike. 醒 has the wine radical 酉 and a third tone, while 惺 has the heart radical 忄 and a first tone.
Common words with 惺
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 假惺惺 | jiǎxīngxīng | (of an expression of sympathy) insincere; phony |
Questions about 惺
How many strokes are in 惺?
惺 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 惺 mean?
惺 (xīng) means intelligent, clever, astute. A common word with it is 假惺惺 (jiǎxīngxīng), meaning "(of an expression of sympathy) insincere; phony".
How do you pronounce 惺?
惺 is pronounced xīng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 惺?
The radical of 惺 is 忄, which carries the idea of "heart". Dictionaries list 惺 under this radical.
Is 假惺惺 a positive or negative word?
It is negative. It accuses someone of putting on a fake show of concern, kindness or sadness. Using it about a person you are talking to sounds blunt or even rude.
What does 惺惺相惜 mean?
惺惺相惜 (xīngxīng xiāng xī) is an idiom. It describes talented or like-minded people who admire and value each other. Here 惺惺 keeps the older sense of clever, sharp people.