HSK 4, v, 16 strokes, radical 酉, rank #604, Medium
醒
xǐng
to be awake
HSK 4, v, 16 strokes, radical 酉, rank #604, Medium
醒
xǐng
to become aware
HSK 4, v, 16 strokes, radical 酉, rank #604, Medium
醒
xǐng
to sober up
HSK 4, v, 16 strokes, radical 酉, rank #604, Medium
醒
xǐng
to come to
HSK 4, v, 16 strokes, radical 酉, rank #604, Medium
醒
xǐng
to wake up, to startle; to sober up
HSK 4, v, 16 strokes, radical 酉, rank #604, Medium
xǐng(xing3) T3
1to wake up
2to be awake
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March 24, 2026
醒xǐng(xing3)
The character 醒 (xǐng) primarily means 'to wake up' or 'to become aware.' It can be used in various contexts, such as waking from sleep, becoming sober, or experiencing an awakening of understanding. This word conveys not only the act of waking physically but also the realization or enlightenment in a metaphorical sense.
Strokes16Radical酉Frequency#604DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of awakening is often linked to personal growth and enlightenment, especially in philosophical texts like Daoism and Buddhism, where waking up can signify a deeper understanding of life and existence.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person who is 'singing' (sounds like xǐng) as they wake up in the morning. The character 醒 combines the radical '水' (water) on the left, suggesting the refreshing nature of waking up, with '青' (blue/green) on the right, which can remind you of clear skies that often accompany a new day.
Meanings of 醒
xǐng(xing3)
1to wake up
2to be awake
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 醒
醒Simplified
16Strokes
酉Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#604Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 醒
Podcast: 醒
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AI Study Notes for 醒
Quick Contrast
醒 (xǐng) vs 苏 (sū): use 醒 for waking up from sleep or awareness, while 苏 implies recovery from a faint or coma.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person who is 'singing' (sounds like xǐng) as they wake up in the morning. The character 醒 combines the radical '水' (water) on the left, suggesting the refreshing nature of waking up, with '青' (blue/green) on the right, which can remind you of clear skies that often accompany a new day.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 醒 with similar-sounding words like 行 (xíng, to walk), which can lead to miscommunication. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but pay attention to tone; the third tone can be tricky for learners. Typical collocations include 醒来 (to wake up) and 醒酒 (to sober up).
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 4, students should focus on the nuanced meanings of 醒 in different contexts. Connecting it to other words related to awareness or consciousness, such as 意识 (yìshí, consciousness) and 觉 (jué, to feel or perceive), can enhance understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of awakening is often linked to personal growth and enlightenment, especially in philosophical texts like Daoism and Buddhism, where waking up can signify a deeper understanding of life and existence.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 醒 with 觉 (jué), leading to sentences like 我醒觉了 (Wǒ xǐng jué le), which is incorrect; the correct phrase is 我醒来了 (Wǒ xǐng lái le) meaning 'I woke up.' Additionally, using the wrong tone, such as saying xing instead of xǐng, can change the meaning completely.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 醒
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Grammar Patterns of 醒
醒 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
When Jock woke up and found you gone he went crazy.
5
不幸的是，奶奶好像总是醒来的不是时候。
bù xìng de shì， ， nǎi nǎi hǎo xiàng zǒng shì xǐng lái de bù shì shí。
Unfortunately, Grandma always seems to awaken at awkward moments.
6
各家报纸都以整个头版醒目地刊登了这一报道。
gè jiā bào zhǐ dū yǐ zhěng gè tóu bǎn xǐng mù dì kān dēng le zhè yī bào dào。
The newspapers splashed the story all over their front pages.
7
鄙人被一声大喊惊醒：“喂！”
bǐ rén bèi yī shēng dà hǎn jīng xǐng：“ ：“！”
Yours truly was awoken by a shout: "Ahoy there!"
8
他从睡梦中醒来，浑身冒着冷汗。
tā cóng shuì mèng zhōng xǐng lái， ， hún shēn mào zháo lěng。
He awoke from his sleep in a cold sweat.
9
他醒了过来，发现查利正站在床边。
tā xǐng le guò lái， ， fā xiàn chá lì zhèng zhàn zài chuáng。
He awoke to find Charlie standing near the bed.
10
最醒目的特点是绘有图画的墙面装饰。
zuì xǐng mù de tè diǎn shì huì yǒu tú huà de qiáng miàn zhuāng shì。
The most arresting feature is the painted wall decoration.
Cultural Notes for 醒
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, waking up early is often associated with productivity and discipline. Many people believe that starting the day early helps to achieve more.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of awakening is often linked to personal growth and enlightenment, especially in philosophical texts like Daoism and Buddhism, where waking up can signify a deeper understanding of life and existence.
Word Family of 醒
Words Containing This Character20
醒xǐngto wake up
提醒tíxǐngto remind
清醒qīngxǐngsober
醒来xǐngláito waken醒來
叫醒to awaken
唤醒to wake sb喚醒
睡醒to wake up
醒目xǐngmùeye-grabbing (headline)
惊醒jīngxǐngto rouse驚醒
苏醒sūxǐngto come to甦醒
觉醒juéxǐngto awaken覺醒
醒悟xǐngwùto come to oneself
昏迷不醒to remain unconscious
警醒to be alert
醒酒to sober up
酒醒to sober up
弄醒to wake sb up
提神醒脑invigorating提神醒腦
猛醒to realise suddenly
灵醒keen靈醒
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 醒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 醒
醒 (xǐng) and 觉 (jué) both relate to awareness, but they are used in different contexts. 醒 usually refers to waking up or becoming sober, while 觉 can mean to feel or perceive something. Understanding the nuances can help in using them correctly.
Related phrases include '醒来' (xǐng lái), meaning 'to wake up,' and '清醒' (qīng xǐng), meaning 'sober' or 'clear-headed.' These phrases can help expand your vocabulary around the concept of waking and awareness.
醒 (xǐng) means 'to wake up' or 'to be awake.' It can also imply becoming aware of something or sobering up from intoxication. The character is often used in contexts related to waking from sleep or gaining awareness.
You can use 醒 (xǐng) in a sentence like '我早上六点醒' (Wǒ zǎoshang liù diǎn xǐng), which means 'I wake up at six in the morning.' Another example is '他终于醒过来了' (Tā zhōngyú xǐng guòlai le), meaning 'He finally came to his senses.'
You might say 我刚醒来 (Wǒ gāng xǐng lái) meaning 'I just woke up,' to describe your state in the morning.
No, 醒 can also refer to becoming aware of something, such as realizing an important fact or sobering up.
醒 emphasizes the action of waking or becoming conscious, while 觉 can mean to feel or perceive something.
