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March 24, 2026
馨xīn(xin1)
The character 馨 (xīn) refers to a pleasant and sweet fragrance, often associated with flowers or incense. It is commonly used in literary contexts and can evoke feelings of nostalgia or beauty, making it ideal for describing scents that are delightful and uplifting.
Strokes20Radical香Frequency#68709DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The concept of fragrance is significant in Chinese culture, often linked to traditional practices like tea ceremonies and incense burning, which emphasize harmony and tranquility. The character 馨 is often used in poetry to express deep emotions and beauty.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fragrant flower garden where the air is filled with the sweet scent of blossoms. The character 馨 looks like a flower (香) with the addition of the 'heart' radical (心), symbolizing that a fragrant scent brings joy to the heart.
Meanings of 馨
xīn(xin1)
1fragrant, aromatic
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 馨
馨Simplified
20Strokes
香Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 馨
Podcast: 馨
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AI Study Notes for 馨
Quick Contrast
香 (xiāng): 香 is more general and can refer to any pleasant smell, while 馨 specifically denotes a sweet and delicate fragrance.
Usage Notes
While 馨 is a formal term often found in poetry or literature, learners should avoid using it in casual conversation. It collocates well with words for scents and aromas, such as 馨香 (xīnxiāng), which means fragrant. Be careful with pronunciation, ensuring the tone is correct: xīn (first tone).
HSK Study Tips
Although not included in the HSK levels, understanding 馨 can enhance vocabulary related to describing scents and emotions. Students should focus on how this character complements other words related to fragrance and beauty, such as 香 (xiāng) and 美 (měi).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 馨 with 香 (xiāng), which also means fragrant but is more commonly used in conversation. For example, saying '我喜欢馨的花' (wǒ xǐhuān xīn de huā) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢香的花' (wǒ xǐhuān xiāng de huā).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 馨
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Phonosemantic compound. 香 represents the meaning and 殸 represents the sound.
1The meaning half香 carries the sense.
2The sound half殸 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayincense
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 馨? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 馨?
Decomposition of 馨
IDS Structure⿱殸香
馨Full Character
=
殸qing4
top
香xiang1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 馨?
How to say fragrant, aromatic in Chinese
“fragrant, aromatic” in Chinese is馨xīn
The character 馨 (xīn) refers to a pleasant and sweet fragrance, often associated with flowers or incense. It is commonly used in literary contexts and can evoke feelings of nostalgia or beauty, making it ideal for describing scents that are delightful and uplifting.
When to use 馨
While 馨 is a formal term often found in poetry or literature, learners should avoid using it in casual conversation. It collocates well with words for scents and aromas, such as 馨香 (xīnxiāng), which means fragrant. Be careful with pronunciation, ensuring the tone is correct: xīn (first tone).
馨 or something close to it
香 (xiāng): 香 is more general and can refer to any pleasant smell, while 馨 specifically denotes a sweet and delicate fragrance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 馨 with 香 (xiāng), which also means fragrant but is more commonly used in conversation. For example, saying '我喜欢馨的花' (wǒ xǐhuān xīn de huā) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢香的花' (wǒ xǐhuān xiāng de huā).
Write 馨
馨
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Practice writing 馨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 馨
馨 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
房间内有烟斗烟丝的淡淡____香。
The room held the faint, sweet odour of pipe tobacco.
