XING-4

('xing' in the fourth tone)

There are 31 standard Chinese characters with a 'xing' pronunciation. Major sound-indicating components are: 星 (4 occurences), 幸 (4)

The morphem 'xing'', spoken in the fourth tone, is well associated with happiness, as there are two common characters that play a central part in words that stand for happiness, though not in the same context.

高兴 = gao(1)xing(4) = happy

幸福 = xing(4)fu(2) = happy

Even though the English translation is the same, the Chinese words are not interchangeable.

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兴 = interest (as in 'being attracted to, not what one gets on funds in the bank)

This character also exists in the first tone with the meaning 'to prosper'.

The character is encountered most frequently in:

高兴 = gao(1)xing(4) = happy (if the two characters were taken individually, the literal meaning would be 'high interest')

高 = gao(1) = high

很高兴认识你. = Hen(3) gao(1)xing(4) ren(4)shi(-) ni(3). = Very happy to know you.

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幸 = happy, lucky

The following two-character version is usually encountered:

幸福 = xing(4)fu(2) = happy, happiness (not the one about being introduced to somebody;this word is reserved for major affairs, such as 'a happy life')

幸福生活 = xing(4)fu(2) sheng(1)huo(2) = a happy life

福 = fu(2) = luck