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习惯 (xí guàn) — (noun) habit, custom; (verb) to be used to, to be accustomed to

Definition

习惯 (xíguàn) is both a noun ('habit / personal custom') and a verb ('to be used to'). As a noun it means an individual's habit; for broader social customs use 习俗 or 风俗.

noun
habitcustom
verb
to be used toto be accustomed to
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 习惯。
    Tā de xí guàn shì měi tiān kàn shū.
    His habit is to read every day.
  • 习惯。
    Wǒ yǐ jīng xí guàn le zhè lǐ de shēng huó.
    I've already gotten used to the life here.
  • 习惯，。
    Zhè ge xí guàn bù hǎo, nǐ yào gǎi.
    This habit is bad, you should change it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

习xípractice
惯guànaccustomed

习惯 joins 习 (practice) and 惯 (accustomed), describing something practiced until it feels normal.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 習; 习 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 習 pairs 羽 (wings) with 日 (sun), showing a bird learning to fly; the simplified 习 is a later shorthand.

Open 习 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 慣; 惯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
貫
貫guàn慣guàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 慣 shows 忄 (heart) beside 貫, which gives the sound; the simplified 惯 is a shorthand. Habit is what one does by heart.

Open 惯 →
Appears in
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