新 xīn — new · English

新

xīn

new

At a glance · 新

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文、金文从斤（斧）从木从辛，会意以斧伐木取薪（本作「薪」）。后假借为「新旧」之新。隶楷作「新」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「新」本指柴薪（后作薪），假借为新旧之新。

Structure

会意字，从斤从木从辛，本象伐木取薪，借表新旧。

At a glance

Pinyinxīn

Radical斤

Strokes13

UnicodeU+65B0

Character type会意

Theme状态

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English new New, recent; originally 'firewood' (薪).

Français nouveau Nouveau, récent; à l'origine 'bois' (薪).

Español nuevo Nuevo, reciente; originalmente 'leña' (薪).

العربية جديد جديد أو حديث؛ أصله حطب.

Русский новый Новый, недавний; изначально «дрова» (薪).

Common words

新xīnnew
新闻xīn wénnews

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