Chinese word

现象

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiàn xiàng

Meaning

  • nounphenomenon

Example

这种现象很常见。zhè zhǒng xiàn xiàng hěn cháng jiàn

This phenomenon is very common.

Illustration for 现象 (phenomenon)

More examples

春天的气候变化是自然的现象。chūn tiān de qì hòu biàn huà shì zì rán de xiàn xiàng

Changes in the spring climate are a natural phenomenon.

Core concept

What appears on the surface and can be noticed as a state, change, pattern, or event.

Common phrases

  • 常见的现象cháng jiàn de xiàn xiàng

    common phenomenon

  • 自然现象zì rán xiàn xiàng

    natural phenomenon

  • 社会现象shè huì xiàn xiàng

    social phenomenon

Similar words

情况qíng kuàng: The overall situation, including the surrounding conditions and circumstances.
状态zhuàng tài: The condition that a person or thing is in at a particular time.

Definition in Chinese

可被观察到的事物的外在表现或发生的事情，指表面上显现出来的状态、变化或事件。kě bèi guān chá dào de shì wù de wài zài biǎo xiàn huò fā shēng de shì qíng zhǐ biǎo miàn shàng xiǎn xiàn chū lái de zhuàng tài biàn huà huò shì jiàn

Word origin

现 (xiàn, "appear") + 象 (xiàng, "form or appearance") gives the idea of an outward form that appears and can be observed.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often associate "phenomenon" with something unusual or scientific, while Chinese uses it broadly for an observable situation or trend, including common ones.

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