性
性 (xìng) means “-ness (suffix for quality)”. It is made of 忄 + 生 and has 8 strokes, and is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 性 into its parts
What 性 is made of
- 忄 xīn — heart
- 八 bā — eight
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 生 shēng — life
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 土 tǔ — earth
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: 忄 gives the meaning, 生 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
性 stroke order
Example sentences
大家都知道运动的重要性。Dàjiā dōu zhīdào yùndòng de zhòngyàoxìng.Everyone knows how important exercise is.
这件事的可能性大吗？Zhè jiàn shì de kěnéngxìng dà ma?How likely is this to happen?
Words with 性
- 个性gèxìngpersonality
- 性别xìngbiégender
- 性格xìnggépersonality
- 性质xìngzhìnature
- 记性jìxingmemory (ability to remember)
- 慢性mànxìngchronic
- 人性rénxìnghuman nature
- 任性rènxìngwilful
- 索性suǒxìngmight as well
- 弹性tánxìngelasticity
- 性感xìnggǎnsexy
- 性命xìngmìnglife (of a person or animal)
- 性能xìngnéngperformance
- 男性nánxìngmale
- 女性nǚxìngfemale
Also built with 忄
- 忆yìto remember
- 忙mángbusy
- 忧yōusad
- 快kuàifast
- 怀huáibosom
- 怕pàto be afraid of
- 怖bùfrightened
- 怜liánto pity
- 怪guàistrange
- 怯qièafraid
- 恍huǎngabsent-minded
- 恒héngconstant
Quick facts
| Pinyin | xìng |
|---|---|
| Meaning | -ness (suffix for quality); nature; sex |
| Strokes | 8 |
| Radical | 心 (heart, #61) |
| Pattern | Left–right |
| HSK | HSK 4 (exam 2025) · HSK 3 (2021) |
Questions about 性
What does 性 mean?
性 (xìng) means “-ness (suffix for quality); nature; sex”.
How many strokes does 性 have?
性 has 8 strokes.
What is the radical of 性?
The radical of 性 is 心 (xīn, “heart”), Kangxi radical number 61.
What parts make up 性?
性 is made of 忄 (heart) and 生 (life).
Which HSK level is 性?
性 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021).
Learn 性 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 26: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.