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忄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
忄xīnheart; mind; soulzg, 3 strokes, radical 忄, rank #72470, Very Hard
xīn(xin1) T1
  1. 1heart; mind; soul
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

忄xīn(xin1)

The character 忄 (xīn) represents the concept of the heart, mind, or soul in Chinese. It is often used as a radical in other characters, indicating emotional or mental aspects. This character captures the essence of feelings, thoughts, and inner experiences.

Strokes3Radical忄Frequency#72470DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the heart symbolizes not only emotions but also moral integrity and sincerity. The phrase '用心' (yòng xīn - to use one's heart) emphasizes the importance of genuine intention in relationships and actions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a beating heart that symbolizes emotions and thoughts. The radical 忄 looks like a heart symbol with the top part representing the pulse of feelings, reminding you of 'xīn' which sounds like 'sinn' in 'sinner', emphasizing the emotional weight of one's heart.

Meanings of 忄

xīn(xin1)
1heart; mind; soul
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 忄

忄Simplified
3Strokes
忄Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 忄

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Podcast: 忄

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AI Study Notes for 忄

Usage Notes

While 忄 is primarily a radical and not used as a standalone word, learners should pay attention to its presence in characters like 情 (qíng - emotion) and 忧 (yōu - worry). It is generally used in more serious or formal contexts when discussing emotions or mental states, so avoid using it in overly casual conversations.

HSK Study Tips

Although 忄 is not an HSK word on its own, it appears in many HSK vocabulary words. Focus on characters that include this radical, as they often relate to emotional or mental states, enhancing your understanding of associated terms like 爱 (ài - love) and 想 (xiǎng - think).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 忄 with the standalone character 心 (xīn), which means heart but is used differently. Remember that 忄 is a radical and not used by itself; always look for its combination in other characters.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 忄

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Etymology of 忄

Explanation

忄 is a component form of 心.

Learn more about character formation (六书)

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 忄

忄 is a component form of 心.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 忄? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

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Decomposition of 忄

IDS Structure⿻八丨
忄Full Character
=
八ba1
outer
丨gun3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 忄?

How to say heart; mind; soul in Chinese

“heart; mind; soul” in Chinese is忄xīn

The character 忄 (xīn) represents the concept of the heart, mind, or soul in Chinese. It is often used as a radical in other characters, indicating emotional or mental aspects. This character captures the essence of feelings, thoughts, and inner experiences.

When to use 忄

While 忄 is primarily a radical and not used as a standalone word, learners should pay attention to its presence in characters like 情 (qíng - emotion) and 忧 (yōu - worry). It is generally used in more serious or formal contexts when discussing emotions or mental states, so avoid using it in overly casual conversations.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 忄 with the standalone character 心 (xīn), which means heart but is used differently. Remember that 忄 is a radical and not used by itself; always look for its combination in other characters.

Write 忄

忄

Practice writing 忄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 忄

Words Containing This Character1
忄xīnKangxi radical 61 (心) as a vertical side element
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 忄 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 忄

As a radical, 忄 indicates a connection to the heart or mind, often relating to emotions or mental states.

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