興 (xīng) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

興

xīng[xing1]Tone 1

to flourish

HSK 1

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兴

Multiple Readings (多音字):

Guru Deep Dive

English · to flourish

Cached lesson

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Topology:Top-bottom

Strokes:15

Writing Balance Rule: Distribute the top elements evenly over the bottom base to prevent the character from feeling top-heavy.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 興 was streamlined into 兴 to simplify the complex central structural components while preserving the overall silhouette.

1. Meaning

to rise, to flourish, to become popular

surname Xingto start or encourageto get upto permit or allow (dialect)maybe (dialect)

VerbNeutral#action#state#society

Sample Usage

这个时尚现在很兴。
zhège shíshàng xiànzài hěn xīng.
This fashion is very popular right now.
国家兴旺。
guójiā xīngwàng.
The country is flourishing and prosperous.

2. Sound

/[ɕiŋ⁵⁵]/Tone: 55

興

xīngxing1

¯(55)

=xīng

Initial Consonant

Type: Alveolo-Palatal Fricative

Sounds like: sh sound pronounced with the tongue flat against the lower teeth

Unaspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: Hissing friction with lips stretched wide in a smile.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip rests behind lower teeth while the blade approaches the hard palate.

Final Rhyme

ing

Vowel Group: -i vowel group

Sounds like: -ing rhymes with English 'ing' in sing

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'eeng'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T1 (55)

5 → 5 (55)

1st Tone (High-Flat)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Maintains a flat, elevated pitch identical to a high musical drone without any rise or fall.

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the soft alveolo-palatal 'x-' with the retroflex 'sh-', or mishearing the high level Tone 1 for a rising tone.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: Tone 1 is a high, steady musical note held flat at the top of your vocal range, like a sustained singing pitch.

3. Writing

Topology: Top-bottom · Strokes: 15 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: Distribute the top elements evenly over the bottom base to prevent the character from feeling top-heavy.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 興 was streamlined into 兴 to simplify the complex central structural components while preserving the overall silhouette.

4. Components

Radical 八 · Eight Radical (eight, division)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 同 (provides phonetic and structural support indicating agreement or togetherness)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 同 (original sound: tóng)

Multiple hands (represented by the surrounding shapes) lifting something up together (同) to raise it high.

同 together / phonetic base
八 hands lifting or spreading apart

5. History

Liushu category: Compound ideogram (会意)

Origin: Oracle bone scripts depict multiple hands joining forces to lift an object upward, visually embodying the concept of rising and cooperating to flourish.

Semantic Evolution: Originally meant to raise or lift together, it naturally expanded to mean flourishing, gaining popularity, and starting new endeavors.

The character bridges physical lifting with social prosperity, showing how ancient Chinese thought linked collective effort to rising success.

6. Sinosphere

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: コウ (kō) / キョウ (kyō) / Kun: おこ.る (oko.ru) / おこ.す (oko.su)

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

Picture four hands coming together (同) to lift a heavy box high into the air, making their business rise and flourish (兴) with popularity!

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

兴

xīngto flourishBase character for rising and flourishing.

高兴

gāoxīnghappyCompound word meaning high spirits.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

本(běn)

本 has a horizontal line through the bottom trunk (root/origin), whereas 兴 features multiple top and bottom elements for lifting.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

听到這個好消息，大家都高興得[___]高采烈。

Clue: xīng

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the soft initial 'x-' with 'sh-' and failing to hold the flat Tone 1 pitch steady.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see 兴, what tone and primary meanings come to mind?

Production: How do you write the character for 'to flourish' or 'to become popular' with Pinyin xīng?

興xīngto flourish

Speed:

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