Meaning of 核心
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- core; nucleus
How to use 核心
核心 is common in formal, business, and news language for the key part of an idea, team, or system. It often works like an adjective before another noun, as in 核心技术 (héxīn jìshù, core technology). Example: 这是问题的核心。(Zhè shì wèntí de héxīn.) This is the core of the problem.
核 (hé) means the pit or stone inside a fruit, and 心 (xīn) means heart. The pit at the heart of a fruit is its core, so 核心 is the central, most important part of something.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 核心 and 中心 (zhōngxīn). 中心 is a physical center or a place like 购物中心 (shopping center), while 核心 is the most essential or important part. Also keep 核 in the second tone, hé, not hè.
核心 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
核 hé · pit · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
心 xīn · heart · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 核心.
| 小心 | xiǎoxīn | to be careful; to take care |
| 开心 | kāixīn | to feel happy; to rejoice |
| 关心 | guānxīn | to be concerned about; to care about |
| 中心 | zhōngxīn | center; heart; core |
| 放心 | fàngxīn | to feel relieved; to feel reassured |
| 心情 | xīnqíng | mood; frame of mind |
| 心里 | xīnlǐ | chest; heart; mind |
| 心中 | xīnzhōng | central point; in one's thoughts |
| 信心 | xìnxīn | confidence; faith (in sb or sth) |
| 伤心 | shāngxīn | to grieve; to be broken-hearted |
| 内心 | nèixīn | heart; innermost being; (math.) incenter |
| 决心 | juéxīn | determination; resolution |
Questions about 核心
What does 核心 mean?
核心 (héxīn) means "core; nucleus" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 核心?
核心 is made of 2 characters: 核 (10 strokes), 心 (4 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 核心 an HSK word?
Yes. 核心 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can 核心 describe a person?
Yes. You can say 核心人物 (héxīn rénwù, key figure) or 团队的核心 (tuánduì de héxīn, the core of the team) for the most important person in a group.
Does 核心 relate to nuclear science?
In physics, 原子核 (yuánzǐhé) is the atomic nucleus and 核 alone often means nuclear, as in 核能 (hénéng, nuclear energy). 核心 by itself usually means core in a general sense, not nuclear.