馨 meaning and stroke order
Fragrant, aromatic
How to write 馨, stroke by stroke
20 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 馨
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- fragrant
How 馨 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Incense.
香 gives the meaning and 殸 hints at the sound.
Radical: 香 (incense), shared by 3 characters on this site.
How to remember 馨
The bottom part is 香 (xiāng), fragrance or incense, which gives the meaning. The top part 殸 is a sound hint, so picture a sound drifting up from burning incense: a scent that spreads far.
馨 is a literary character and rarely appears alone in speech. You will mostly see it in 温馨 (wēnxīn), meaning warm and cozy, often used for homes, families and atmospheres. Example: 这个家很温馨。(Zhège jiā hěn wēnxīn.) This home feels very warm and cozy.
Common mistake: Learners often write the top part wrong because 殸 looks like the top of 声 (shēng) plus 殳. Check that the top has the full 殸 shape before adding 香 underneath. Also keep the first tone in xīn, not the fourth tone of 信 (xìn).
Common words with 馨
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 温馨 | wēnxīn | comfort; soft and fragrant | HSK 7-9 |
馨 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 馨
How many strokes are in 馨?
馨 is written with 20 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 馨 mean?
馨 (xīn) means fragrant, aromatic. A common word with it is 温馨 (wēnxīn), meaning "comfort; soft and fragrant".
How do you pronounce 馨?
馨 is pronounced xīn, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 馨?
The radical of 馨 is 香, which carries the idea of "incense". Dictionaries list 馨 under this radical.
Is 馨 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 馨 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Is 馨 used in names?
Yes, 馨 is popular in Chinese given names, especially for girls, because it suggests a gentle fragrance and warmth. Names like 雨馨 (Yǔxīn) are common.
What is the difference between 馨 and 香?
香 (xiāng) is the everyday word for fragrant or tasty and works in many contexts. 馨 is more formal and poetic, and it usually suggests a lasting, far-reaching fragrance or a warm feeling rather than smell alone.