星星 (xīng xing) — star (in the sky) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

星星 means the stars you see in the night sky. It is distinct from 明星 ('celebrity' / famous person) — never use 星星 for people.

noun

star (in the sky)

Measure word · 颗

Easily confused

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

星 means star, and repeating it gives the everyday form 星星 for stars in the sky.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Appears in