Meanings of 吉祥
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 吉祥
Podcast: 吉祥
Podcast: 吉祥
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 吉祥
吉利 (jílì) - use 吉利 when referring to something that is favorable or beneficial in a more general sense, while 吉祥 specifically emphasizes auspiciousness and luck in cultural contexts.
Imagine a 'ji' (吉) smiling as it brings good luck to everyone around it. The 'xiang' (祥) part can remind you of a 'sang' (song) that plays at celebrations, reinforcing the idea of joy and auspiciousness. Together, they form a vivid image of joyful celebrations filled with good fortune.
吉祥 is often used in formal settings, such as during festivals or when giving blessings. Be careful not to confuse it with similar terms like 好运 (hǎoyùn), which means 'good luck' but is less formal. Common collocations include 吉祥的日子 (a lucky day) and 吉祥物 (mascot or talisman).
As an HSK 6 word, 吉祥 connects well with other vocabulary related to fortune and blessings, such as 幸运 (xìngyùn - fortunate) and 幸福 (xìngfú - happiness). Focus on using it in expressions related to auspicious occasions to reinforce its meaning.
In Chinese culture,吉祥 is often associated with symbols like the dragon and phoenix, which are believed to bring good fortune and harmony. It is common to see this word in decorations during the Lunar New Year, symbolizing hope for a prosperous year ahead.
Learners often confuse 吉祥 with 幸福 (xìngfú), mistakenly using 吉祥 to describe general happiness. For example, saying '我觉得今天很吉祥' (I feel very lucky today) is incorrect; it should be '我觉得今天很幸福' (I feel very happy today).
Pronunciation of 吉祥
Drill the tone of 吉祥 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Component Characters
Write 吉祥
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 吉祥 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 吉祥
吉祥 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). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
认为黑猫不____是一种很普遍的迷信.
It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.
Example Sentences for 吉祥 (1)
Cultural Notes for 吉祥
In Chinese culture,吉祥 is often associated with symbols like the dragon and phoenix, which are believed to bring good fortune and harmony. It is common to see this word in decorations during the Lunar New Year, symbolizing hope for a prosperous year ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions about 吉祥
You can say, '祝您吉祥如意' (Wishing you luck and everything goes well).