新 meaning and stroke order
New; newly; meso- (chemistry)
How to write 新, stroke by stroke
13 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 新
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- new
- newly
- meso- (chemistry)
How 新 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A freshly chopped 斤 tree 亲.
Radical: 斤 (a catty (about 500 grams)), shared by 12 characters on this site.
How to remember 新
新 (xīn) shows an axe 斤 on the right chopping wood on the left 亲. Think of the fresh, new surface you see when a tree is freshly chopped.
新 is used as an adjective meaning new, and before verbs to mean newly or just. It appears in many everyday words like 新年 (xīnnián, New Year), 新闻 (xīnwén, news) and 新鲜 (xīnxiān, fresh). Example: 我买了一个新手机。(Wǒ mǎi le yí ge xīn shǒujī.) I bought a new phone.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 新 (xīn, new) with 心 (xīn, heart) and 信 (xìn, letter, to believe), since they sound alike. Also, when writing, do not forget the 木-like bottom of the left part 亲, and keep 斤 on the right, not 斥.
Common words with 新
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 新年 | xīnnián | New Year | HSK 1 |
| 重新 | chóngxīn | again; once more; re- | HSK 2 |
| 新闻 | xīnwén | news | HSK 2 |
| 创新 | chuàngxīn | to bring forth new ideas; to blaze new trails; innovation | HSK 3 |
| 新娘 | xīnniáng | bride | HSK 4 |
| 新鲜 | xīnxiān | fresh (experience, food etc); freshness | HSK 4 |
| 新郎 | xīnláng | bridegroom; groom | HSK 4 |
| 新型 | xīnxíng | new type; new kind | HSK 4 |
| 更新 | gēngxīn | to replace the old with new; to renew | HSK 5 |
| 全新 | quánxīn | all new; completely new | HSK 6 |
| 新人 | xīnrén | newcomer; new recruit; fresh talent; newlywed, esp. new bride | HSK 6 |
| 新兴 | xīnxīng | (of markets, industries, infectious diseases etc) rising; emerging | HSK 6 |
| 革新 | géxīn | to innovate; innovation | HSK 6 |
| 新生 | xīnshēng | new; newborn | HSK 7-9 |
新 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 新
Learning 新 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 新
How many strokes are in 新?
新 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 新 mean?
新 (xīn) means new; newly; meso- (chemistry). A common word with it is 新年 (xīnnián), meaning "New Year".
How do you pronounce 新?
新 is pronounced xīn, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 新?
The radical of 新 is 斤, which carries the idea of "a catty (about 500 grams)". Dictionaries list 新 under this radical.
Is 新 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 新 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.
What is the difference between 新 and 新鲜?
新 simply means new, like a new phone or a new student. 新鲜 (xīnxiān) means fresh, and is used for food, air, or a novel experience, such as 新鲜的水果 (fresh fruit).
How do you use 新 to mean newly or just?
Put 新 before a verb to show something was recently done, as in 新来的同学 (xīn lái de tóngxué), a student who just arrived. In speaking, 刚 (gāng) is also common for this meaning.