闲 (xián) — free (not busy), idle, unoccupied
Definition
闲 (xián) means 'free, idle' — typically about time or a person, not space; 空 also covers 'vacant space'. Often carries a tone of having nothing to do, sometimes unfavorably like 懒惰.
adjective
free (not busy)idleunoccupied
Easily confused
- 问wènlook-aliketo ask
- 嫌xiánsound-aliketo dislike (usually because something is unsatisfactory); to complain about; to find fault with
- 闪shǎnlook-aliketo dodge, to duck out of the way
- 咸xiánsound-alikesalty
- 间jiānlook-alike(classifier) for rooms, offices, and other enclosed spaces
- 弦xiánsound-alike(noun) string (of a musical instrument or a bow)
Examples
- 闲，。Wǒ zuì jìn bù xián, gōng zuò hěn máng.I've been not free recently; work is very busy.
- 闲？。Zhōu mò nǐ xián ma? wǒ men yì qǐ qù pá shān ba.Are you free this weekend? Let's go hiking together.
- 闲，。Tā tiān tiān xián zhe, shén me yě bú zuò.He idles around every day, doing nothing.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.