显 meaning and stroke order
To make visible; to reveal; prominent
How to write 显, stroke by stroke
9 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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 显
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to make visible
- to reveal
- prominent
- conspicuous
- (prefix) phanero-
How 显 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Sun.
日 gives the meaning and 业 hints at the sound.
Radical: 日 (sun), shared by 116 characters on this site.
How to remember 显
The sun 日 (rì) sits on top of 业 (yè), which gives the sound. Picture the sun shining down on something so it becomes clear and easy to see.
显 usually appears in compound words like 明显 (míngxiǎn, obvious), 显示 (xiǎnshì, to show) and 显得 (xiǎnde, to seem). Example: 他今天显得很累。(Tā jīntiān xiǎnde hěn lèi.) He looks very tired today.
Common mistake: Learners often write the bottom part as 亚 (yà) instead of 业 (yè). The bottom of 显 is 业, with two short vertical strokes standing on a long horizontal line. Also keep the third tone, xiǎn, and do not confuse it with 现 (xiàn), which is fourth tone.
Common words with 显
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 显然 | xiǎnrán | clearly; evidently; obviously | HSK 3 |
| 明显 | míngxiǎn | clear; distinct | HSK 3 |
| 显示 | xiǎnshì | to show; to illustrate | HSK 3 |
| 显得 | xiǎnde | to seem; to look | HSK 3 |
| 显著 | xiǎnzhù | outstanding; notable | HSK 4 |
| 显出 | xiǎnchū | to express; to exhibit | HSK 6 |
| 显而易见 | xiǎn'éryìjiàn | clearly and easy to see (idiom); obviously; clearly | HSK 7-9 |
| 显眼 | xiǎnyǎn | conspicuous; eye-catching | HSK 7-9 |
| 显现 | xiǎnxiàn | appearance; to appear | HSK 7-9 |
| 显示器 | xiǎnshìqì | display device; monitor | HSK 7-9 |
| 显赫 | xiǎnhè | illustrious; celebrated | HSK 7-9 |
| 凸显 | tūxiǎn | to stand out clearly; to make prominent | HSK 7-9 |
| 显灵 | xiǎnlíng | (of a supernatural or divine being) to appear; to make itself manifest | |
| 显微镜 | xiǎnwēijìng | microscope |
显 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 显
Learning 显 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 显
How many strokes are in 显?
显 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 显 mean?
显 (xiǎn) means to make visible; to reveal; prominent. A common word with it is 显然 (xiǎnrán), meaning "clearly; evidently; obviously".
How do you pronounce 显?
显 is pronounced xiǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 显?
The radical of 显 is 日, which carries the idea of "sun". Dictionaries list 显 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 显?
The traditional form of 显 is 顯. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 显 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 显 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 显 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 显得 and 显示?
显得 (xiǎnde) means to seem or to look a certain way and is followed by a description, as in 显得年轻 (looks young). 显示 (xiǎnshì) means to show or display, often for data, screens or results, as in 屏幕显示时间 (the screen shows the time).
How is 显然 different from 明显?
显然 (xiǎnrán) is mostly an adverb meaning obviously, placed before a verb or at the start of a sentence: 他显然不知道。明显 (míngxiǎn) is often an adjective meaning clear or noticeable, as in 很明显的变化 (a very obvious change), though it can also work as an adverb.