现象 meaning in English

xiànxiàng

phenomenon; appearance

HSK 3nounTraditional 現象19 strokes

Meaning of 现象

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

xiànxiàng

phenomenon
appearance

Measure word: 個|个,種|种

How to use 现象

现象 is a noun for something you can observe happening, often a social trend or a natural event. It often follows a description with 的, as in 这种现象 (zhè zhǒng xiànxiàng, this kind of phenomenon). Example: 这是一个很普遍的现象。(Zhè shì yí gè hěn pǔbiàn de xiànxiàng.) This is a very common phenomenon.

现 (xiàn) means to appear or show, as in 出现 (chūxiàn), and 象 (xiàng) means an image or form. Something that shows itself as a visible form is a 现象, a phenomenon.

Common mistake: Learners often write 现像 with the person radical 亻 instead of 现象, because 像 (xiàng) sounds the same. In 现象 the second character has no 亻 on the left.

现象 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

四sì分fēn之zhī三sān的de美měi国guó人rén相xiāng信xìn存cún在zài超chāo自zì然rán现xiàn象xiàng。

Three out of four Americans believe in the existence of paranormal phenomena.

这zhè是shì我wǒ以yǐ前qián从cóng未wèi见jiàn过guò的de现xiàn象xiàng。

It's a phenomenon I've never seen before.

极jí光guāng是shì极jí地dì特tè有yǒu的de自zì然rán现xiàn象xiàng。

The aurora is a phenomenon characteristic of the polar regions.

数shù据jù表biǎo明míng年nián轻qīng人rén抽chōu烟yān的de现xiàn象xiàng没méi有yǒu减jiǎn少shǎo。

As is evident from the data, smoking is not decreasing among the young.

科kē学xué家jiā们men尚shàng未wèi找zhǎo到dào对duì这zhè神shén秘mì现xiàn象xiàng的de解jiě释shì。

The scientists have not found any explanation for the mysterious phenomenon.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

现 xiàn · to appear · 8 strokes

象 xiàng · elephant · 11 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 现象.

现在	xiànzài	now; at present; currently
发现	fāxiàn	to notice; to become aware of; to discover; to find; to detect
出现	chūxiàn	to appear; to arise; to emerge; to show up
实现	shíxiàn	to achieve; to implement; to realize; to bring about
表现	biǎoxiàn	to show; to show off
现场	xiànchǎng	the scene (of a crime, accident etc); (on) the spot
现实	xiànshí	reality; actuality; real; actual
印象	yìnxiàng	impression (sth that stays in one's mind); a memory
现金	xiànjīn	cash
对象	duìxiàng	target; object; partner; boyfriend; girlfriend
形象	xíngxiàng	image; form
现代	xiàndài	modern times; modern age

Questions about 现象

What does 现象 mean?

现象 (xiànxiàng) means "phenomenon; appearance" and is used as a noun.

How do you write 现象?

现象 is made of 2 characters: 现 (8 strokes), 象 (11 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.

Is 现象 an HSK word?

Yes. 现象 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 现象 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 现象 is written 現象.

Do both syllables in 现象 have the same tone?

Yes. Both 现 (xiàn) and 象 (xiàng) are fourth tone, so say them as two short falling syllables. Keep the final n in xiàn and the ng in xiàng distinct.

Can 现象 describe something negative?

Yes. It is neutral, but it is often used for problems people want to point out, such as 浪费现象 (làngfèi xiànxiàng, the phenomenon of waste). Context and the words before it show whether it is good or bad.