TongTong
Sign in

现象 (xiàn xiàng) — phenomenon; outward appearance (often contrasted with reality)

Definition

A "phenomenon" is something observable that happens or exists — like a natural or social pattern. It is NOT "outward appearance"; for that sense use 表面 or 外表.

noun
phenomenonoutward appearance (often contrasted with reality)
Measure word · 个, 种

Examples

  • 现象。
    Zhè shì yì zhǒng zì rán xiàn xiàng.
    This is a natural phenomenon.
  • 现象。
    Wǒ men xū yào guān chá zhè ge jīng jì xiàn xiàng.
    We need to observe this economic phenomenon.
  • 现象。
    Nǐ bù néng guāng píng xiàn xiàng zuò jué dìng.
    You can't judge solely by appearances.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

现xiànappearing
象xiàngimage

现 (appearing) and 象 (image) give the outward appearance of something.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 現; 现 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
見
見jiàn現
Same sound today

The traditional form 現 pairs 玉 (jade) with 見 as a sound part; the simplified 现 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 现 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

象 is drawn as an elephant, with a long trunk, a head, and a big body.

Open 象 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Abstract Concepts5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.