Chinese word

性

Pronunciation

Pinyinxìng

Meaning

  • nounsex

Example

这个话题跟性有关。zhè ge huà tí gēn xìng yǒu guān

This topic is related to sex.

Illustration for 性 (sex)

More examples

报名表上要写清楚性别。bào míng biǎo shàng yào xiě qīng chǔ xìng bié

You need to clearly indicate your gender on the application form.

Core concept

A person's or living thing's defining nature, viewed especially through the distinction between male and female and the matters connected with it.

Common phrases

  • 性别xìng bié

    gender

  • 性格xìng gé

    personality

Similar words

性别xìng bié: A person's classification as male or female.
男nán: A person who is male.
女nǚ: A person who is female.

Definition in Chinese

表示生物学上或社会上区分男性与女性的类别，即人的性别，也用于指与性别有关的方面。biǎo shì shēng wù xué shàng huò shè huì shàng qū fēn nán xìng yǔ nǚ xìng de lèi bié jí rén de xìng bié yě yòng yú zhǐ yǔ xìng bié yǒu guān de fāng miàn

Word origin

性 (xìng, "nature") combines 忄 (xīn, "heart") with 生 (shēng, "life"), linking the word to an inborn quality and then to biological and social distinctions.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, this one-syllable noun can sound formal or leave the topic too broad, so fuller wording is common for a person's gender or an intimate subject.

Other meanings

  • sexualadjective
  • naturenoun

Related words

Word lists with this word