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March 24, 2026
天生tiānshēng(tian1sheng1)
天生 (tiānshēng) refers to qualities or traits that are inherent or innate to a person or thing, often used to describe someone's natural disposition. This term can be applied in various contexts, such as talent, personality, or natural characteristics, emphasizing that these traits are not acquired but rather a part of one's nature from birth.
Frequency#2941DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 天生 is often linked to beliefs in destiny and the idea that some abilities or characteristics are predetermined, which can influence how individuals perceive personal growth and development.
Memory Tip
Imagine a baby (天) looking up at the sky (生) right after it's born, symbolizing its innate qualities coming from nature. The character '天' means 'sky' or 'heaven,' indicating something divine or natural, while '生' means 'to give birth' or 'to be born,' connecting back to the idea of innate traits.
Meanings of 天生
tiānshēng(tian1sheng1)
1nature
2disposition
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 天生
天生Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#2941Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 天生
Podcast: 天生
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AI Study Notes for 天生
Quick Contrast
天赋 (tiānfù) refers specifically to a natural talent or gift, while 天生 (tiānshēng) emphasizes inherent qualities or traits from birth. Use 天生 for broader innate characteristics, and 天赋 when specifically discussing talents.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a baby (天) looking up at the sky (生) right after it's born, symbolizing its innate qualities coming from nature. The character '天' means 'sky' or 'heaven,' indicating something divine or natural, while '生' means 'to give birth' or 'to be born,' connecting back to the idea of innate traits.
Usage Notes
天生 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious not to confuse it with 学生 (xuéshēng, student), which refers to someone who learns rather than an innate quality. Common collocations include 天生才华 (tiānshēng cáihuá, innate talent) and 天生的领导能力 (tiānshēng de lǐngdǎo nénglì, natural leadership ability).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 天生 connects with other words describing characteristics and qualities, such as 性格 (xìnggé, personality) and 本性 (běnxìng, nature). Students should focus on recognizing how this word can describe both positive and negative traits depending on the context.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 天生 is often linked to beliefs in destiny and the idea that some abilities or characteristics are predetermined, which can influence how individuals perceive personal growth and development.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 天生 with 自学 (zìxué, self-taught), mistakenly implying that innate qualities can be learned. For instance, saying '他是一个自学的天生领导' (He is a self-taught natural leader) would be incorrect; instead, use '他是一个天生的领导'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 天生
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Grammar Patterns of 天生
天生 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 4 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
洛伦佐是____的领袖，善于交友。
Lorenzo was a natural leader who made friends easily.
The majority have a built-in Luddite mentality; they are resistant to change.
8
她在梦中焦虑不安，反映了她白天生活的基调。
tā zài mèng zhōng jiāo lǜ bù ān， ， fǎn yìng le tā bái tiān shēng huó de jī。
Her dreams were troubled, reflecting the tenor of her waking hours.
9
谢纳托罗娃女士对市场经济学有一种天生的敏感。
xiè nà tuō luó wá nǚ shì duì shì cháng jīng jì xué yǒu yī zhǒng tiān shēng de mǐn gǎn。
Ms Senatorova showed an instinctive feel for market economics.
10
她拥有那种天生的优雅，举手投足都彬彬有礼。
tā yōng yǒu nà zhǒng tiān shēng de yōu yǎ， ， jǔ shǒu tóu zú dū bīn bīn yǒu。
She had that inbred politeness, it was a part of her.
Cultural Notes for 天生
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 天生 is often linked to beliefs in destiny and the idea that some abilities or characteristics are predetermined, which can influence how individuals perceive personal growth and development.
Frequently Asked Questions about 天生
No, 天生 specifically refers to innate qualities; for learned skills, use words like 学习 (xuéxí, to learn) or 获得 (huòdé, to acquire).
It can be used in both contexts; for example, 天生的优点 (tiānshēng de yōudiǎn, innate strengths) is positive, while 天生的缺陷 (tiānshēng de quēxiàn, innate flaws) is negative.
Make sure to use the first tone (high and level) for both characters: tiān (天) and shēng (生).
