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March 24, 2026
清醒qīngxǐng(qing1xing3)
清醒 (qīngxǐng) refers to a state of being clear-headed, awake, and alert. It is commonly used when describing someone who is mentally sharp or sober, especially after being intoxicated or in a foggy state. The term can also be applied metaphorically to situations where clarity of thought is needed.
Frequency#2064DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of being 清醒 is often associated with the importance of being mentally sharp in social and professional settings. Clarity of thought is highly valued, especially in decision-making processes and during discussions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named 'Qing' who, after a long night of partying, suddenly feels 'awake' and 'clear-headed' at dawn. The character 清 (qīng) means 'clear' and 醒 (xǐng) means 'to awaken', visually represented by a person rising from sleep as the sun rises, symbolizing clarity and alertness.
Meanings of 清醒
qīngxǐng(qing1xing3)
1clear-headed
2sober
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 清醒
清醒Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2064Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 清醒
Podcast: 清醒
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AI Study Notes for 清醒
Quick Contrast
清醒 (qīngxǐng) vs 醒 (xǐng) — use 清醒 for a more complete state of alertness or clarity, while 醒 can simply refer to the act of waking up.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person named 'Qing' who, after a long night of partying, suddenly feels 'awake' and 'clear-headed' at dawn. The character 清 (qīng) means 'clear' and 醒 (xǐng) means 'to awaken', visually represented by a person rising from sleep as the sun rises, symbolizing clarity and alertness.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 清醒 with 醒来 (xǐnglái), which specifically means 'to wake up' rather than 'to be clear-headed'. It's important to remember that 清醒 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more commonly used in everyday conversation. Make sure to use the correct tone for 清 (qīng) and 醒 (xǐng) to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As a level 6 HSK word, 清醒 connects with other terms related to states of awareness and consciousness like 明白 (míngbái, to understand) and 清楚 (qīngchǔ, clear). Focus on practicing the tones and differentiating it from similar words to master its usage.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of being 清醒 is often associated with the importance of being mentally sharp in social and professional settings. Clarity of thought is highly valued, especially in decision-making processes and during discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners might mistakenly say '我清醒了' (wǒ qīngxǐngle) when they mean 'I woke up', which should be '我醒来了' (wǒ xǐngláile). Remember, 清醒 emphasizes mental clarity rather than just waking from sleep.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 清醒
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Grammar Patterns of 清醒
清醒 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
夜里他的痛苦是减轻了，但人也不那么____了。
The pain had lessened in the night, but so had his lucidity.
Example Sentences for 清醒 (10)
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1
夜里他的痛苦是减轻了，但人也不那么清醒了。
yè lǐ tā de tòng kǔ shì jiǎn qīng le， ， dàn rén yě bù nà mó qīng xǐng。
The pain had lessened in the night, but so had his lucidity.
2
一想到要被判刑，他的头脑就会变得非常清醒。
yī xiǎng dào yào bèi pàn xíng， ， tā de tóu nǎo jiù huì biàn dé fēi cháng qīng。
A term in prison will concentrate his mind wonderfully.
3
光是这么多的细节就会让哪怕是头脑最清醒的作者感到困惑。
guāng shì zhè mó duō de xì jié jiù huì ràng nǎ pà shì tóu nǎo zuì qīng xǐng de zuò zhě gǎn dào kùn huò。
The sheer quantity of detail would bemuse even the most clear-headed author.
4
“把这杯咖啡喝了——它会让你清醒过来。”
“ “ bǎ zhè bēi kā fēi hē—— le —— tā huì ràng nǐ qīng xǐng。”
My own eyes had felt heavy-lidded, but now I was wide awake.
6
他完全清醒了，听见浴缸里的水在流。
tā wán quán qīng xǐng le， ， tīng jiàn yù gāng lǐ de shuǐ zài。
He came fully awake to hear the bath running.
7
为让自己保持清醒，他一杯接一杯地喝咖啡。
wéi ràng zì jǐ bǎo chí qīng xǐng， ， tā yī bēi jiē yī bēi dì hē kā。
He had been drinking mugs of coffee to keep himself awake.
8
拉古秋又追问了一些问题, 他那粉红色的脸越来越清醒.
lā gǔ qiū yòu zhuī wèn le yī xiē wèn tí, , tā nà fěn hóng sè de liǎn yuè lái yuè qīng.
Lacouture probed with more questions, his pink face growing sober.
9
陪审团宣称他神志清醒, 是指他有辨明是非的能力.
péi shěn tuán xuān chēng tā shén zhì qīng xǐng, , shì zhǐ tā yǒu biàn míng shì fēi de néng.
By declaring him sane, the jury implied that he had a moral sense.
10
冷酷的日常现实使他从理想主义的幻梦中清醒过来.
lěng kù de rì cháng xiàn shí shǐ tā cóng lǐ xiǎng zhǔ yì de huàn mèng zhōng qīng xǐng guò lái.
The harshness of everyday reality disenchanted him of his idealistic hopes.
Cultural Notes for 清醒
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the idea of being 清醒 is often associated with the importance of being mentally sharp in social and professional settings. Clarity of thought is highly valued, especially in decision-making processes and during discussions.
Frequently Asked Questions about 清醒
No, while it is often used in that context, 清醒 can also describe general clarity of mind or alertness.
Yes, 清醒 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more prevalent in casual conversations.
Common collocations include 清醒过来 (qīngxǐng guòlái, to come to one's senses) and 保持清醒 (bǎochí qīngxǐng, to stay clear-headed).
