辛 (xīn) · pungent; spicy

Meanings

1 pungent; spicy
2 laborious; toilsome
3 bitter; suffering

Examples

HSK 4

这道菜味道很辛辣。

Zhè dào cài wèidào hěn xīnlà.

This dish has a spicy, biting flavor.

HSK 5

农民一年到头辛苦种粮食。

Nóngmín yìnián dàotóu xīnkǔ zhòng liángshi.

Farmers work hard all year to grow grain.

Tips

memory

Pictograph of a tattooing needle - the pain of branding gave the meanings 'pungent, bitter, toilsome.'

history

Originally a pictograph of a tattoo knife used to brand criminals. The pain of branding extended to 'sharp, pungent' (taste) and 'hardship, toil' (辛苦). Also the eighth Heavenly Stem.

Components

pictograph

辛 xīn

tattoo knife; bitter; toilsome

A pictograph of a tattoo knife used for branding criminals - long handle on top, sharp point at the bottom. The pain of branding gave the meaning bitter, harsh, toilsome (辛苦 hardship, 辛辣 spicy-pungent). Filed under itself as Kangxi radical #160. The visible 立+十 split has no independent meaning. Also the eighth heavenly stem.

Radical

Bitter Kangxi #160

The 'bitter/pungent' radical. Originally a pictograph of a tattooing knife used to mark criminals, extended to senses of punishment, hardship, and the sharp 'bitter' flavor. Indexes a small but evocative set: 辜 (crime), 辟 (open up / regal), 辨 (distinguish), 辩 (argue), 辫 (braid). Also surfaces as the eighth Heavenly Stem.