Definition
行 (xíng) has two main uses: as a verb meaning 'to walk' (more formal/literary than everyday 走 zǒu), and as an adjective meaning 'OK, acceptable' or 'capable' (colloquial, like 好 but specifically for permission or competence). As 'OK', it's often used in the pattern 行不行 to ask 'Is it all right?'. It is not used for 'good' in a general sense — that's 好.
verb
to walkto go
adjective
acceptableOKall rightcapablecompetent
Easily confused
- 行hánglook-alike(noun) row; line
- 醒xǐngsound-aliketo wake up; to be awake
- 街jiēlook-alikestreet
- 性xìngsound-alike(suffix) forms abstract nouns from adjectives or verbs, indicating a quality, property, or state
- 打dǎlook-aliketo hit, strike, beat
- 姓xìngsound-alike(noun) surname, family name
- 腥xīngsound-alikefishy (smell or taste)
Examples
- 行？Nǐ zhèyàng shuō xíng bù xíng?Is it OK to say it like that?
- 行，。Tā hěn xíng, yídìng néng zuò hǎo.He is very capable and will surely do it well.
- 。tā bùxíng de hěn màn.He walks very slowly.
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