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March 24, 2026
现(現)xiàn(xian4)
The character 现 (xiàn) primarily means 'to appear' or 'to manifest,' and is commonly used to indicate the current state of something or the present time. It can refer to both physical and abstract appearances, such as current events or existing conditions.
Strokes8Radical王Frequency#3129DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'the present' is significant, especially in philosophical discussions about time. The character 现 is often used in contexts like '现状' (xiànzhuàng), meaning 'current situation,' which is important in business and social discussions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a magician who makes a rabbit appear from a hat. The character 现 (xiàn) visually resembles a person (亻) standing in front of something (见) that is appearing. This can help you remember that it relates to appearance and presence.
Meanings of 现
xiàn(xian4)
1to appear
2present
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 现
现Simplified
現Traditional
8Strokes
王Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#3129Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 现
Podcast: 现
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AI Study Notes for 现
Quick Contrast
现 (xiàn) vs 显 (xiǎn): use 现 for indicating the current state or presence of something, while 显 emphasizes clarity or visibility.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a magician who makes a rabbit appear from a hat. The character 现 (xiàn) visually resembles a person (亻) standing in front of something (见) that is appearing. This can help you remember that it relates to appearance and presence.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 现 with similar characters like 显 (xiǎn), which means 'to show' or 'to reveal.' 现 is more commonly used in everyday conversation to refer to the present time or existing situations, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
HSK Study Tips
Although 现 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is fundamental for expressing current states, making it relevant for learners at HSK 2 and above. Students should focus on using it in sentences about their daily life or current events.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'the present' is significant, especially in philosophical discussions about time. The character 现 is often used in contexts like '现状' (xiànzhuàng), meaning 'current situation,' which is important in business and social discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 现 with 显 when trying to express 'to show' or 'to display.' For example, saying '我现我的成绩' (wǒ xiàn wǒ de chéngjì) is incorrect; it should be '我显示我的成绩' (wǒ xiǎnshì wǒ de chéngjì) for 'I show my grades.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 现
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Grammar Patterns of 现
现 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Little of the existing housing is of good enough quality.
Cultural Notes for 现
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'the present' is significant, especially in philosophical discussions about time. The character 现 is often used in contexts like '现状' (xiànzhuàng), meaning 'current situation,' which is important in business and social discussions.
Word Family of 现
Words Containing This Character20
现在xiànzàinow現在
发现fāxiànto find發現
出现chūxiànto appear出現
表现biǎoxiànto show表現
现场xiànchǎng(on) the spot現場
实现shíxiànto achieve實現
现实xiànshíreality現實
现xiànnow現
现象xiànxiàngphenomenon現象
现代xiàndàimodern times現代
体现tǐxiànto embody體現
现金xiànjīncash現金
呈现chéngxiànto appear呈現
展现zhǎnxiànto come out展現
现有xiànyǒucurrently existing現有
现代化modernization現代化
现状xiànzhuàngcurrent situation現狀
现行xiànxíngin force現行
现货available item現貨
显现xiǎnxiànappearance顯現
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 现在 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 现
Some synonyms for 现 (xiàn) include 现在 (xiàn zài), meaning 'now,' and 当前 (dāng qián), meaning 'current.' These words can often be used interchangeably depending on the context, especially when indicating the present time.
现 (xiàn) and 显 (xiǎn) have different meanings; 现 refers to 'current' or 'to appear,' while 显 means 'to show' or 'to manifest.' Understanding their nuances can help in conveying the correct meaning in conversation.
现 (xiàn) means 'to appear' or 'present'. It is used to refer to something that is current or existing. In various contexts, it can denote the present time or something that has manifested.
To use 现 (xiàn) in a sentence, you might say '现在是三点' (xiàn zài shì sān diǎn), which means 'It is three o'clock now.' This showcases its function to indicate the current time. Another example is '现有资源' (xiàn yǒu zī yuán), meaning 'existing resources.'
You can use 现 to describe the current state, like '现在是晚上' (xiànzài shì wǎnshàng), meaning 'It is evening now.'
No, 现 means 'appear' or 'exist,' while 现在 (xiànzài) means 'now' or 'currently.' 现在 incorporates 现 but adds the concept of time.
Yes, 现 is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure it's used correctly to convey the idea of existence or current states.
