新 xīn new
How to remember 新: 亲 kin + 斤 catty = new. At the family reunion all his kin cheer as the uncle unwraps a shiny kitchen scale that weighs by the catty, brand new.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound · 假借 borrowed for its sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
新 = 亲 kin + 斤 catty
- 亲 kin sound
- 立 stand
- 木 tree
- 斤 catty meaning
At the family reunion all his kin cheer as the uncle unwraps a shiny kitchen scale that weighs by the catty, brand new.
How it came to be
The oldest form is an axe beside a sound part: it meant chopping wood, and the word for new borrowed it later.
How it is used
- New, the opposite of 旧 (jiù) for objects: 新车 (xīn chē) a new car, 新闻 (xīnwén) news, 重新 (chóngxīn) anew, 旧车 (jiù chē) an old car.
- For fresh food use 新鲜 (xīnxiān); note the antonym of 新 is 旧 for things but 老 for people and relationships.
Characters built with 新
Words with 新
- 新闻xīnwénnewsHSK 3
- 新鲜xīnxiānfresh (experience, food, etc.)HSK 3
- 新年xīnniánNew YearHSK 3
- 重新chóngxīnagainHSK 4
- 全新quánxīnall newHSK 5
- 创新chuàngxīnto bring forth new ideasHSK 5
- 新人xīnrénnewcomerHSK 5
- 新型xīnxíngnew typeHSK 5
- 新娘xīnniángbrideHSK 5
- 新郎xīnlángbridegroomHSK 5
- 更新gēngxīnto replace the old with newHSK 5
- 崭新zhǎnxīnbrand newHSK 6
- 新兴xīnxīngrisingHSK 6
- 新媒体xīnméitǐnew mediaHSK 6
- 新款xīnkuǎnnew styleHSK 6
- 新能源xīnnéngyuánnew energyHSK 6
- 新颖xīnyǐngliterally new budHSK 6
- 高新技术gāoxīn-jìshùhigh techHSK 6
- 新奇xīnqínovelHSK 7
- 新式xīnshìnew styleHSK 7
- 新手xīnshǒunew handHSK 7
- 新春xīnchūnthe beginning of SpringHSK 7
- 新生xīnshēngnewHSK 7
- 清新qīngxīnfresh and cleanHSK 7
- 翻新fānxīnto revampHSK 7
- 耳目一新ěrmù-yìxīna pleasant changeHSK 7
- 刷新shuāxīnto renovateHSK 8
- 新潮xīncháomodernHSK 8
- 新陈代谢xīnchén-dàixièmetabolism (biology)HSK 8
- 日新月异rìxīn-yuèyìdaily renewal, monthly change (idiom)HSK 8
- 焕然一新huànrán-yìxīnto look completely new (idiom)HSK 9
- 记忆犹新jìyì-yóuxīnto remain fresh in one's memory (idiom)HSK 9
- 革新géxīnto innovateHSK 9
Example sentences
- 我认识了新朋友。 Wǒ rènshile xīn péngyou.I have made a new friend.
- 这是他们的新房子。 Zhè shì tāmen de xīn fángzi.This is their new house.
- 新学期开始了。 Xīn xuéqī kāishǐ le.The new semester has started.
- 有什么新发现？ Yǒu shénme xīn fāxiàn?Has there been a new discovery?