This list covers 93 Chinese words starting with the letter X, arranged alphabetically from “xǐhuān” to “xiéyì”. You’ll find everyday verbs, nouns, and adjectives here, covering topics like family, weather, school, food, and daily routines. These words show up constantly in conversation, making them useful for anyone building a practical Mandarin vocabulary.
Chinese words are units of meaning built from one or more characters, each carrying its own pronunciation and tone. Tones matter a lot in Mandarin: “xióngmāo” (panda) and “xiōngshǒu” (murderer) start with nearly identical sounds but shift meaning entirely once tone and context come into play. Many of these words, like “xióngmāo,” also carry cultural weight, since the panda is widely recognized as a national symbol of China.
Below you’ll find the table with the word, its English translation, Mandarin spelling, example usage, and a short description.
Word: the Mandarin term itself, written in pinyin with tone marks so you can see exactly how it’s pronounced.
English Translation: a plain-language meaning that shows you what the word conveys in everyday English.
Mandarin Spelling: the word written in Chinese characters, letting you compare pinyin to the original script.
Example Usage: a full sentence showing the word in context, with an English translation so you can see how it’s actually used.
Description: a short explanation of when and how you’d use the word, including any cultural notes or common pairings.
Chinese words
| Word | English Translation | Mandarin Spelling | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| xǐhuān | to like | 喜欢 | Wǒ xǐhuān chī píngguǒ. (I like eating apples.) |
| xièxiè | thank you | 谢谢 | Xièxiè nǐ de bāngzhù. (Thank you for your help.) |
| xiànzài | now / currently | 现在 | Xiànzài shì jǐ diǎn? (What time is it now?) |
| xuéxí | to study / to learn | 学习 | Wǒ měitiān xuéxí Zhōngwén. (I study Chinese every day.) |
| xuésheng | student | 学生 | Tā shì yí ge hǎo xuésheng. (He is a good student.) |
| xiǎoxīn | to be careful | 小心 | Xiǎoxīn, lù hěn huá! (Be careful, the road is slippery!) |
| xīwàng | to hope / hope | 希望 | Wǒ xīwàng nǐ néng lái. (I hope you can come.) |
| xiàwǔ | afternoon | 下午 | Wǒmen xiàwǔ jiàn miàn. (We’ll meet in the afternoon.) |
| xīngqī | week | 星期 | Zhè ge xīngqī hěn máng. (This week is very busy.) |
| xǐzǎo | to bathe / shower | 洗澡 | Wǒ měi tiān wǎnshang xǐzǎo. (I take a shower every evening.) |
| xiàtiān | summer | 夏天 | Xiàtiān hěn rè. (Summer is very hot.) |
| xiě | to write | 写 | Qǐng xiě nǐ de míngzì. (Please write your name.) |
| xìn | letter (mail) | 信 | Wǒ xiě le yì fēng xìn. (I wrote a letter.) |
| xìnxī | information | 信息 | Zhè shì zhòngyào de xìnxī. (This is important information.) |
| xiāngjiāo | banana | 香蕉 | Wǒ xǐhuān chī xiāngjiāo. (I like eating bananas.) |
| xīguā | watermelon | 西瓜 | Xiàtiān chī xīguā hěn shuǎng. (Eating watermelon in summer is refreshing.) |
| xuézhě | scholar | 学者 | Tā shì yí wèi zhùmíng de xuézhě. (He is a famous scholar.) |
| xuéxiào | school | 学校 | Wǒ de xuéxiào hěn dà. (My school is very big.) |
| xiōngdì | brothers | 兄弟 | Tāmen shì qīnxiōngdì. (They are biological brothers.) |
| xìngfú | happiness | 幸福 | Zhù nǐ xìngfú! (Wishing you happiness!) |
| xǐhào | preference / hobby | 喜好 | Měi ge rén de xǐhào bù tóng. (Everyone’s preferences are different.) |
| xiàng | toward | 向 | Tā xiàng wǒ zǒu lái. (He walked toward me.) |
| xióngmāo | panda | 熊猫 | Xióngmāo shì Zhōngguó de guóbǎo. (The panda is China’s national treasure.) |
| xìngyùn | lucky | 幸运 | Wǒ hěn xìngyùn rènshi nǐ. (I’m lucky to know you.) |
| xuěhuā | snowflake | 雪花 | Dōngtiān piāo zhe xuěhuā. (Snowflakes are falling in winter.) |
| xuě | snow | 雪 | Wàimiàn zài xià xuě. (It’s snowing outside.) |
| xīfú | (Western-style) suit | 西服 | Tā chuān zhe yí tào xīfú. (He is wearing a suit.) |
| xiézi | shoes | 鞋子 | Zhè shuāng xiézi hěn shūfu. (These shoes are very comfortable.) |
| xīn | new | 新 | Zhè shì yí jiàn xīn yīfu. (This is a new piece of clothing.) |
| xīnnián | New Year | 新年 | Xīnnián kuàilè! (Happy New Year!) |
| xìngmíng | full name | 姓名 | Qǐng tián xiě nín de xìngmíng. (Please fill in your full name.) |
| xìng | surname | 姓 | Nín guì xìng? (What is your surname?) |
| xiūxi | to rest | 休息 | Wǒ xūyào xiūxi yíxià. (I need to rest for a bit.) |
| xiàjiàng | to decrease / decline | 下降 | Wēndù zài xiàjiàng. (The temperature is dropping.) |
| xúnzhǎo | to search for | 寻找 | Tā zài xúnzhǎo gōngzuò. (He is looking for a job.) |
| xǐ’ài | to be fond of | 喜爱 | Dàjiā dōu xǐ’ài zhè shǒu gē. (Everyone loves this song.) |
| xióngxīn | ambition | 雄心 | Tā yǒu hěn dà de xióngxīn. (He has great ambition.) |
| xuǎnzé | to choose / choice | 选择 | Nǐ yǒu hěn duō xuǎnzé. (You have many choices.) |
| xiàngzhēng | to symbolize / symbol | 象征 | Hóngsè xiàngzhēng xìngyùn. (Red symbolizes luck.) |
| xiàngmù | project | 项目 | Zhè ge xiàngmù hěn zhòngyào. (This project is very important.) |
| xíguàn | habit | 习惯 | Zǎoqǐ shì yí ge hǎo xíguàn. (Waking up early is a good habit.) |
| xǐjù | comedy | 喜剧 | Wǒ xǐhuān kàn xǐjù. (I like watching comedies.) |
| xiǎoshuō | novel | 小说 | Zhè běn xiǎoshuō hěn yǒuqù. (This novel is very interesting.) |
| xiǎohái | child | 小孩 | Nà ge xiǎohái hěn kě’ài. (That child is very cute.) |
| xiàozhǎng | principal / headmaster | 校长 | Xiàozhǎng zài kāihuì. (The principal is in a meeting.) |
| xìngqù | interest | 兴趣 | Wǒ duì yīnyuè hěn gǎn xìngqù. (I’m very interested in music.) |
| xīngxīng | star | 星星 | Wǎnshang de xīngxīng hěn liàng. (The stars are bright at night.) |
| xīngqiú | planet | 星球 | Dìqiú shì yí ge xīngqiú. (Earth is a planet.) |
| xiàyǔ | to rain | 下雨 | Jīntiān xiàyǔ le. (It’s raining today.) |
| xiàxuě | to snow | 下雪 | Zuótiān wǎnshang xiàxuě le. (It snowed last night.) |
| xǐwǎn | to wash dishes | 洗碗 | Wǒ chīwán fàn hòu xǐwǎn. (I wash the dishes after eating.) |
| xǐyīfu | to do laundry | 洗衣服 | Māma zài xǐ yīfu. (Mom is doing the laundry.) |
| xióngwěi | grand / magnificent | 雄伟 | Chángchéng fēicháng xióngwěi. (The Great Wall is magnificent.) |
| xiùměi | elegant and beautiful | 秀美 | Zhèlǐ de fēngjǐng xiùměi. (The scenery here is beautiful.) |
| xǔduō | many | 许多 | Zhèlǐ yǒu xǔduō rén. (There are many people here.) |
| xǔkě | to permit / permission | 许可 | Xūyào dédào xǔkě. (Permission is required.) |
| xūyào | to need / need | 需要 | Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù. (I need help.) |
| xìnrèn | trust | 信任 | Wǒmen hùxiāng xìnrèn. (We trust each other.) |
| xìnxīn | confidence | 信心 | Yào duì zìjǐ yǒu xìnxīn. (You should have confidence in yourself.) |
| xiūxián | leisure | 休闲 | Zhōumò shì xiūxián de shíjiān. (Weekends are leisure time.) |
| xiàndài | modern | 现代 | Zhè shì yí zuò xiàndài jiànzhú. (This is a modern building.) |
| xiànjīn | cash | 现金 | Wǒ zhǐ dài le xiànjīn. (I only brought cash.) |
| xiānsheng | Mr. / sir / husband | 先生 | Zhāng xiānsheng hěn yǒu lǐmào. (Mr. Zhang is very polite.) |
| xiǎojiě | Miss / young lady | 小姐 | Zhè wèi xiǎojiě hěn piàoliang. (This young lady is very pretty.) |
| xiōngměng | fierce | 凶猛 | Lǎohǔ hěn xiōngměng. (Tigers are fierce.) |
| xiōngshǒu | murderer | 凶手 | Jǐngchá zhuā dào le xiōngshǒu. (The police caught the murderer.) |
| xuéyuàn | college / institute | 学院 | Tā zài yīxué xuéyuàn xuéxí. (She studies at a medical college.) |
| xuéfèi | tuition fee | 学费 | Xuéfèi měi nián dōu zài zhǎng. (Tuition fees rise every year.) |
| xuéqī | semester | 学期 | Xīn xuéqī kāishǐ le. (The new semester has started.) |
| xiūgǎi | to revise | 修改 | Wǒ xūyào xiūgǎi zhè piān wénzhāng. (I need to revise this article.) |
| xiūlǐ | to repair | 修理 | Shīfu zài xiūlǐ chē. (The mechanic is repairing the car.) |
| xiàngpí | eraser | 橡皮 | Wǒ wàng dài xiàngpí le. (I forgot to bring an eraser.) |
| xiāngzi | box | 箱子 | Zhè ge xiāngzi hěn zhòng. (This box is heavy.) |
| xiāngshuǐ | perfume | 香水 | Tā xǐhuan zhè kuǎn xiāngshuǐ. (She likes this perfume.) |
| xiāngyān | cigarette | 香烟 | Tā bù chōu xiāngyān. (He doesn’t smoke cigarettes.) |
| xìnfēng | envelope | 信封 | Bǎ xìn fàng jìn xìnfēng lǐ. (Put the letter into the envelope.) |
| xìnyòngkǎ | credit card | 信用卡 | Wǒ yòng xìnyòngkǎ fùkuǎn. (I pay with a credit card.) |
| xǐshǒujiān | restroom | 洗手间 | Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? (Where is the restroom?) |
| xǐyījī | washing machine | 洗衣机 | Xǐyījī huài le. (The washing machine is broken.) |
| xiǎoshí | hour | 小时 | Wǒ děng le yí ge xiǎoshí. (I waited for an hour.) |
| xiǎoshíhou | childhood | 小时候 | Xiǎoshíhou wǒ zhù zài xiāngxià. (When I was young, I lived in the countryside.) |
| xiāngxìn | to believe | 相信 | Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ. (I believe you.) |
| xiāngtóng | identical | 相同 | Liǎng ge dá’àn xiāngtóng. (The two answers are identical.) |
| xiāngfǎn | opposite | 相反 | Tā de kànfǎ hé wǒ xiāngfǎn. (His view is opposite to mine.) |
| xiāngdāng | quite / rather | 相当 | Zhè jiàn shì xiāngdāng fùzá. (This matter is quite complicated.) |
| xiàoguǒ | effect / result | 效果 | Zhè ge fāngfǎ xiàoguǒ hěn hǎo. (This method has good results.) |
| xiàolǜ | efficiency | 效率 | Tí gāo gōngzuò xiàolǜ hěn zhòngyào. (Improving work efficiency is important.) |
| xiūyǎng | self-cultivation | 修养 | Tā hěn yǒu xiūyǎng. (He has great self-cultivation.) |
| xiā | shrimp | 虾 | Wǒ xǐhuan chī xiā. (I like eating shrimp.) |
| xióng | bear | 熊 | Sēnlín lǐ yǒu yì zhī xióng. (There is a bear in the forest.) |
| xǐquè | magpie | 喜鹊 | Xǐquè bèi rènwéi shì jílì de xiàngzhēng. (The magpie is considered a symbol of good luck.) |
| xúnwèn | to inquire | 询问 | Qǐng xiàng gōngzuò rényuán xúnwèn. (Please inquire with the staff.) |
| xiéyì | agreement | 协议 | Shuāngfāng qiānshǔ le xiéyì. (Both parties signed the agreement.) |
Descriptions
xǐhuān
A common verb used to express fondness for people, food, activities, or things in everyday conversation.
xièxiè
The standard way to say thanks in Mandarin, often paired with “bù kèqì” (you’re welcome) in reply.
xiànzài
A time word placed near the start of a sentence to mark the present moment, distinguishing it from past or future.
xuéxí
Refers broadly to the act of learning, whether in school, self-study, or picking up a new skill.
xuésheng
Used for anyone enrolled in formal education, from primary school through university.
xiǎoxīn
A common warning phrase telling someone to watch out or take caution in a situation.
xīwàng
Expresses a wish for a future outcome; can function as both a verb and a noun.
xiàwǔ
Refers to the period between noon and evening, commonly used when scheduling plans.
xīngqī
Combined with numbers to name the days of the week, such as xīngqīyī for Monday.
xǐzǎo
An everyday verb for washing one’s whole body, whether in a bath or shower.
xiàtiān
One of the four seasons, generally associated with heat and school holidays in China.
xiě
A basic verb for putting characters or words onto paper or a screen.
xìn
Refers to a written letter sent by post, counted with the measure word “fēng.”
xìnxī
A general term for data, news, or facts communicated to someone.
xiāngjiāo
The everyday fruit name, made up of characters meaning “fragrant” and “banana plant.”
xīguā
A popular summer fruit; literally “western melon,” reflecting its historical introduction route.
xuézhě
Describes someone with deep academic expertise or standing in a field of study.
xuéxiào
The general word for an educational institution, from kindergartens to universities.
xiōngdì
Combines the words for older and younger brother; also used loosely for close male friends.
xìngfú
Describes a deep, lasting sense of well-being, often used in wishes for marriage or life.
xǐhào
A slightly formal noun for personal tastes or likes, often used when discussing habits.
xiàng
A preposition indicating direction, used before a verb to show where an action is aimed.
xióngmāo
China’s iconic bear species, literally meaning “bear cat,” beloved as a national symbol.
xìngyùn
Describes good fortune or a fortunate outcome in everyday situations.
xuěhuā
The poetic term for individual flakes of falling snow.
xuě
The basic noun for snow, also used in compounds like xuěhuā and xiàxuě.
xīfú
Refers to a Western-style business suit, distinguishing it from traditional Chinese clothing.
xiézi
The everyday word for footwear, counted with the measure word “shuāng” for pairs.
xīn
A common adjective placed before a noun to describe something recently made or acquired.
xīnnián
Refers to the start of a new calendar year, often used in the popular holiday greeting.
xìngmíng
Combines surname and given name; used on official forms and documents.
xìng
Refers to a family name, and appears in the polite question used to ask someone’s surname.
xiūxi
A common verb for taking a break, relaxing, or resting after work or activity.
xiàjiàng
Describes a downward trend, often used for temperature, prices, or statistics.
xúnzhǎo
A slightly more formal verb than “zhǎo,” used for actively seeking something.
xǐ’ài
A warmer, more emphatic version of “xǐhuān,” often used for things widely admired.
xióngxīn
Describes a strong drive or grand aspiration to achieve something significant.
xuǎnzé
Used both as a verb meaning “to select” and a noun meaning “option.”
xiàngzhēng
Describes something that represents an abstract idea, such as a color or object standing for a concept.
xiàngmù
A common business and academic term for a planned undertaking or initiative.
xíguàn
Refers to a regular, often automatic pattern of behavior developed over time.
xǐjù
The genre term for films, plays, or shows meant to be funny and lighthearted.
xiǎoshuō
The general word for a work of long-form fiction, from classics to modern bestsellers.
xiǎohái
A casual, common word for a young child, used frequently in daily conversation.
xiàozhǎng
The title for the head administrator of a school, college, or university.
xìngqù
Describes curiosity or enthusiasm toward a subject, hobby, or activity.
xīngxīng
The everyday, slightly childlike term for stars seen in the night sky.
xīngqiú
A general astronomical term for a celestial body orbiting a star, such as Earth.
xiàyǔ
A verb-object phrase describing rainfall, one of the most common weather expressions.
xiàxuě
Parallel to “xiàyǔ,” this phrase describes snowfall as a weather event.
xǐwǎn
A household chore phrase combining “wash” and “bowl,” referring to cleaning tableware.
xǐyīfu
Describes washing clothes, a routine household task mentioned often in daily life.
xióngwěi
An adjective for something impressively large and majestic, often describing landmarks.
xiùměi
A literary adjective often used to describe graceful, picturesque natural scenery.
xǔduō
A common quantifier meaning “a lot of,” used before nouns in both speech and writing.
xǔkě
A more formal term for authorization, often used in legal or administrative contexts.
xūyào
One of the most frequently used verbs in Mandarin, expressing necessity or requirement.
xìnrèn
Describes confidence in someone’s reliability, honesty, or good intentions.
xìnxīn
Refers to a sense of self-assurance or belief in a positive outcome.
xiūxián
Describes relaxed, non-work activities, often used in phrases like “leisurewear” or “leisure time.”
xiàndài
An adjective describing something contemporary, as opposed to traditional or ancient.
xiànjīn
Refers to physical money, as opposed to cards or digital payment.
xiānsheng
A respectful title for men, also used informally to mean “husband.”
xiǎojiě
A polite address for a young woman, though usage varies by region and context.
xiōngměng
Describes aggressive or intimidating behavior, often used for wild animals.
xiōngshǒu
A term used in crime reporting and detective fiction for the person who committed a killing.
xuéyuàn
Refers to a specialized higher-education institution, often smaller than a full university.
xuéfèi
The cost of attending school, a common topic in discussions about education.
xuéqī
Refers to one of the divided terms of an academic year.
xiūgǎi
Describes making corrections or improvements to a document, plan, or piece of writing.
xiūlǐ
A common verb for fixing broken machines, vehicles, or appliances.
xiàngpí
The everyday school-supply word for a rubber eraser.
xiāngzi
A general term for a box, case, or trunk used for storage or packing.
xiāngshuǐ
Literally “fragrant water,” the everyday word for scented perfume or cologne.
xiāngyān
The standard word for cigarettes, literally combining “fragrant” and “smoke.”
xìnfēng
Refers to the paper covering used to hold and mail a letter.
xìnyòngkǎ
The modern financial term for a card used to borrow money for purchases.
xǐshǒujiān
A polite, common way to refer to a bathroom, literally “hand-washing room.”
xǐyījī
The household appliance used for washing clothes.
xiǎoshí
The standard unit for measuring duration in spoken Mandarin.
xiǎoshíhou
Refers to the period of one’s early life, often used when reminiscing.
xiāngxìn
A common verb expressing trust or conviction that something is true.
xiāngtóng
Describes two or more things that are exactly the same.
xiāngfǎn
Used to contrast two ideas, directions, or opinions that are reverse of each other.
xiāngdāng
An adverb used to intensify an adjective, similar to “fairly” or “quite” in English.
xiàoguǒ
Refers to the outcome or impact produced by an action or method.
xiàolǜ
Describes how effectively time or resources are used to accomplish a task.
xiūyǎng
Refers to refined manners and inner character developed through education and reflection.
xiā
The everyday word for shrimp or prawn, a common ingredient in Chinese cooking.
xióng
The general word for the animal bear, used alone or in compounds like xióngmāo.
xǐquè
A bird whose name literally means “happy bird,” traditionally seen as a sign of good fortune.
xúnwèn
A polite, somewhat formal verb for asking for information.
xiéyì
Refers to a formal understanding or contract reached between two or more parties.