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March 24, 2026
亲密(親密)qīnmì(qin1mi4)
亲密 (qīn mì) describes a close and intimate relationship between individuals, often implying emotional warmth and trust. It's commonly used in contexts related to friendships, family connections, or romantic partnerships, highlighting a deep bond that goes beyond surface-level interactions.
Frequency#2662DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the notion of intimacy often extends beyond romantic relationships to include deep friendships and family bonds, emphasizing the importance of emotional connections in social harmony.
Memory Tip
Think of 亲 (qīn) as 'kissing' and 密 (mì) as 'secret', which together evoke the image of two close friends sharing a secret kiss. The characters visually complement each other, combining the idea of closeness (亲) with a sense of confidentiality (密).
Meanings of 亲密
qīnmì(qin1mi4)
1intimate
2close
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About 亲密
亲密Simplified
親密Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2662Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 亲密
Podcast: 亲密
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AI Study Notes for 亲密
Quick Contrast
亲密 (intimate) vs 密切 (close) — use 亲密 for emotional warmth in relationships, while 密切 emphasizes strong connections or collaboration.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 亲 (qīn) as 'kissing' and 密 (mì) as 'secret', which together evoke the image of two close friends sharing a secret kiss. The characters visually complement each other, combining the idea of closeness (亲) with a sense of confidentiality (密).
Usage Notes
Be careful not to use 亲密 in overly formal contexts, as it is more suited for personal relationships. Collocations include 亲密关系 (intimate relationship) and 亲密朋友 (close friend). Also, remember that the tones must be pronounced correctly to convey the intended meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As a level 6 HSK word, 亲密 can help students understand more complex expressions of relationships. Students should focus on how it contrasts with more formal terms for relationships, such as 关系 (relationship) and how it appears in various contexts like literature or conversation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the notion of intimacy often extends beyond romantic relationships to include deep friendships and family bonds, emphasizing the importance of emotional connections in social harmony.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 亲密 with 亲切 (qīn qiè), which means friendly or kind, leading to incorrect usage in contexts requiring emotional closeness. For instance, saying '亲切关系' instead of '亲密关系' is incorrect; the correct term is '亲密关系'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 亲密
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Grammar Patterns of 亲密
亲密 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 2 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.
I asked whether her closeness to her mother ever posed any problems.
2
我敢说他一定觉得自己失去了一位亲密的世交，因为我知道我是这种感觉。
wǒ gǎn shuō tā yī dìng jué dé zì jǐ shī qù le yī wèi qīn mì de shì jiāo， ， yīn wéi wǒ zhī dào wǒ shì zhè zhǒng gǎn。
I'm sure he must feel he has lost a close family friend, because I know I do.
3
几乎没人能猜透他们之间的亲密关系.
jī hū méi rén néng cāi tòu tā mén zhī jiān de qīn mì guān xì.
One would hardly have guessed the close relationship that existed between them.
Cultural Notes for 亲密
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the notion of intimacy often extends beyond romantic relationships to include deep friendships and family bonds, emphasizing the importance of emotional connections in social harmony.
Frequently Asked Questions about 亲密
No, 亲密 can also describe close friendships and familial bonds, highlighting emotional ties.
It's generally inappropriate in professional settings, where relationships are expected to be more formal.
The opposite would be 疏远 (shū yuǎn), meaning distant or estranged.
