息 xī breath
breath; rest; news; interest
How to remember 息: 自 self + 心 heart = breath. The exhausted runner drags her tired self over the line, her heart pounding, and gasps for breath.
Component breakdown
会意 · Meaning + meaning
Two or more parts whose meanings together make the new meaning.
息 = 自 self + 心 heart
- 自 self meaning
- 心 heart meaning
The exhausted runner drags her tired self over the line, her heart pounding, and gasps for breath.
How it came to be
The nose sits above the heart, for breathing; the top part first meant nose, and only later self.
How it is used
- Rest / breath / news: most common as 休息 (xiūxi) to rest and 消息 (xiāoxi) news or a message.
- Also interest on money: 利息 (lìxī); the shared idea is something that arises or accrues.
Characters built with 息
Words with 息
- 休息xiūxito restHSK 1
- 消息xiāoxinewsHSK 4
- 信息xìnxīinformationHSK 4
- 利息lìxīinterest (on a loan)HSK 6
- 作息zuòxīto work and restHSK 7
- 出息chūxifuture prospectsHSK 7
- 平息píngxīto subsideHSK 7
- 息息相关xīxī-xiāngguānclosely bound up (idiom)HSK 7
- 气息qìxībreathHSK 7
- 经久不息jīngjiǔ-bùxīprolonged (applause, cheering etc)HSK 7
- 喘息chuǎnxīto gasp for breathHSK 8
- 川流不息chuānliú-bùxīthe stream flows without stopping (idiom)HSK 8
- 窒息zhìxīto chokeHSK 9
- 自强不息zìqiáng-bùxīto strive unremittinglyHSK 9
Example sentences
- 病人需要休息。 Bìngrén xūyào xiūxi.Sick people need rest.
- 这个信息是错误的。 Zhège xìnxī shì cuòwù de.This information is wrong.
- 他们躺在草地上休息。 Tāmen tǎng zài cǎodì shang xiūxi.They're lying on the grass, resting.
- 他在看报纸的最新消息。 Tā zài kàn bàozhǐ de zuìxīn xiāoxi.He's reading the latest news in the paper.