xian (现) — to appear, present, now in Chinese

simplified

traditional

xiàn

to appear · to show · present · now · ready (cash)

HSK 1 笔画 8 部首王 (jade) 声旁见 (jiàn) 声调第四声 (falling) all xian readings →

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笔顺 bǐshùn · Stroke order

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字源 zìyuán Etymology & Structure

字源洞见 zìyuán dòngjiàn · Etymological Insight

现 xiàn = 王 (the jade radical) + 见 (jiàn, to see, to appear). The left element 王 here is the jade radical (玉 yù, often flattened to 王 on the left of a character), and 见 carries both the sound and a good deal of the meaning, since 见 itself can mean "to come into view." The original sense is the luster of jade catching the light: the moment a polished stone reveals its sheen. From that glint of something becoming visible, 现 came to mean to appear, to show, and then the present moment that is right before our eyes.

Three senses fall out of the jade coming into view:

1. The present, now. What is before us at this moment: 现在 xiànzài (now), 现代 xiàndài (the modern era), 现实 xiànshí (reality).
2. To appear, to show. The act of coming into view or bringing into view: 出现 chūxiàn (to appear), 发现 fāxiàn (to discover), 表现 biǎoxiàn (to show; conduct), 实现 shíxiàn (to bring about).
3. Ready, on hand, in cash. What is present and available right now rather than promised later: 现金 xiànjīn (cash), 现成 xiànchéng (ready-made).

The thread is presence. Whatever is visible now, happening now, or available now traces back to the jade revealing its shine: a thing that has stepped out of the unseen and stands in plain view.

构词 gòucí Word-Formation Patterns

构词规律 gòucí guīlǜ · What Stands in View 现 as the present / now → 现在 now · 现代 modern · 现实 reality · 现状 the present state
现 as to appear / show → 出现 to appear · 发现 to discover · 表现 to show · 实现 to realize
现 as ready / on hand → 现金 cash · 现成 ready-made · 现场 the scene · 现货 goods in stock

现在 xiànzài Now & the Present

现在 xiànzài now; at present; the present moment

N 名词 míngcí

现 xiàn (present) + 在 zài (to be at). The thing present and standing here: the everyday word for "now." It anchors the present against 过去 guòqù (the past) and 将来 jiānglái (the future).

现在几点了？

Xiànzài jǐ diǎn le?

What time is it now?

我现在很忙。

Wǒ xiànzài hěn máng.

I'm very busy right now.

现代 xiàndài modern; the modern era; contemporary

N 名词 míngcí

现 xiàn (present) + 代 dài (age; generation). The present age, as opposed to 古代 gǔdài (antiquity): 现代化 xiàndàihuà (modernization), 现代社会 "modern society."

现代生活节奏很快。

Xiàndài shēnghuó jiézòu hěn kuài.

The pace of modern life is fast.

现实 xiànshí reality; actual; (of a person) realistic, practical

N/ADJ 兼类 jiānlèi

现 xiàn (present) + 实 shí (real; solid). What is actually the case here and now, set against 理想 lǐxiǎng (the ideal). As an adjective for a person it can mean clear-eyed, or pointedly materialistic.

我们要面对现实。

Wǒmen yào miànduì xiànshí.

We have to face reality.

出现 chūxiàn To Appear & Reveal

语义洞见 yǔyì dòngjiàn · Semantic Insight

As a verb root, 现 supplies the family of words for things coming into view. 出现 chūxiàn is to appear, to come out where it can be seen. 发现 fāxiàn is to discover, to bring a hidden thing to light. 表现 biǎoxiàn is to show outwardly, and as a noun the conduct or performance a person displays. 实现 shíxiàn is to make real, to turn a plan or a dream from the unseen into something that stands in plain view.

The shared logic is the jade revealing its shine. In every one of these words something passes from the unseen into the seen: a figure stepping into the light (出现), a truth uncovered (发现), an inner quality made visible in behavior (表现), an intention realized in fact (实现). Hold the image of the hidden becoming visible and the whole verb family coheres.

出现 chūxiàn to appear; to emerge; to arise

V 动词 dòngcí

出 chū (out) + 现 xiàn (appear). To come out into view, of a person, a problem, or a phenomenon: 出现问题 "a problem arises," 突然出现 "to appear suddenly."

天上出现了一道彩虹。

Tiān shàng chūxiàn le yí dào cǎihóng.

A rainbow appeared in the sky.

发现 fāxiàn to discover; to find; to realize

V/N 动名词 dòngmíngcí

发 fā (to send out; to bring forth) + 现 xiàn (appear). To bring a hidden thing to light, whether a fact, an object, or a sudden realization: 我发现我错了 "I realized I was wrong." As a noun, a discovery.

科学家发现了一颗新行星。

Kēxuéjiā fāxiàn le yì kē xīn xíngxīng.

Scientists discovered a new planet.

辨析 biànxī · 发现 vs. 出现发现 needs a discoverer: someone brings the hidden thing to light (我发现了 "I found it"). 出现 needs no one: the thing simply comes into view on its own (问题出现了 "a problem appeared"). The first is an act of finding; the second is an event of appearing.

表现 biǎoxiàn to show; to display; (noun) performance, conduct, showing

V/N 动名词 dòngmíngcí

表 biǎo (outer; to express) + 现 xiàn (show). To make an inner quality visible on the outside. As a noun it is one's showing or conduct: 他今天表现很好 "he did very well today."

他在工作中表现出色。

Tā zài gōngzuò zhōng biǎoxiàn chūsè.

He performs outstandingly at work.

实现 shíxiàn to realize; to achieve; to bring about

V 动词 dòngcí

实 shí (real) + 现 xiàn (make appear). To turn something from intention into reality: 实现梦想 "to realize a dream," 实现目标 "to achieve a goal."

他终于实现了自己的梦想。

Tā zhōngyú shíxiàn le zìjǐ de mèngxiǎng.

He finally realized his dream.

现金 xiànjīn Ready & On-hand

现金 xiànjīn cash; ready money

N 名词 míngcí

现 xiàn (ready; on hand) + 金 jīn (money; gold). Money present and available right now, as opposed to credit or a promise to pay: 付现金 "to pay in cash."

这家店只收现金。

Zhè jiā diàn zhǐ shōu xiànjīn.

This shop only takes cash.

现成 xiànchéng ready-made; off the shelf; already prepared

ADJ 形容词 xíngróngcí

现 xiàn (on hand) + 成 chéng (completed). Already finished and available, needing no further making: 现成的答案 "a ready-made answer," 现成的衣服 "off-the-rack clothing."

家里有现成的饭菜。

Jiā lǐ yǒu xiànchéng de fàncài.

There's a ready-made meal at home.

现场 xiànchǎng the scene; on-site; live (in person)

N 名词 míngcí

现 xiàn (present) + 场 chǎng (site; field). The very place where something is happening: 案发现场 "the scene of a crime," 现场直播 "a live broadcast."

记者赶到了现场。

Jìzhě gǎndào le xiànchǎng.

The reporters rushed to the scene.

成语 chéngyǔ Idioms & Set Phrases

昙花一现 tán huā yí xiàn the night-blooming flower shows but once: a brief, dazzling moment soon gone Lit: epiphyllum-flower-once-appears. The 昙花 blooms for only a few hours at night. Said of anything brilliant but fleeting, a talent, a fashion, or a success that flares and vanishes.

原形毕现 yuán xíng bì xiàn the original form is fully revealed: a true nature laid completely bare Lit: original-shape-completely-appears. Said when a disguise drops and someone's real, usually unflattering, character or identity becomes plain for all to see.

现身说法 xiàn shēn shuō fǎ to appear in person and teach by example: to instruct from one's own experience Lit: show-the-body-and-expound-the-teaching. Originally Buddhist, of a deity appearing in bodily form to preach. Now it means to teach others by drawing on what one has personally lived through.

记忆法 jìyìfǎ · Master Retention Image

Picture a piece of jade turned toward the light until its sheen suddenly shows: the jade radical 王 on the left, the act of seeing 见 on the right. That glint, the hidden becoming visible, is the whole character. Everything 现 means is something stepping into view.

A figure steps into the light and appears (出现). A buried truth is brought to light and discovered (发现). An inner quality shows on the surface (表现). A plan becomes fact (实现). And the visible moment itself, the one before your eyes right now, is the present (现在). Money you can see and hold is cash (现金). Whenever you meet 现, look for the thing that has just come into plain view.