轻

• Pinyin: qīng
• Hanzi breakdown: 轻 = 车 (vehicle, semantic) + 巠 (phonetic component); simplified from traditional 輕

Meaning

Light; not heavy. Describes something that has little weight or is gentle in force.

Used for physical weight (this bag is light) and figurative gentleness (speak softly, walk lightly). Opposite of 重 (zhòng, heavy). Common compounds include 轻松 (relaxed), 年轻 (young), 轻声 (softly). Can describe actions that are done gently or with little force.

Examples

1. 这个箱子很轻，我一个人就能搬。 This suitcase is very light — I can carry it by myself.
2. 请你轻一点关门。 Please close the door more gently.
3. 这件外套又轻又暖和。 This jacket is both light and warm.

Usage Guide

Context: weight, actions, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这个包很轻。(This bag is very light.)
• 走路轻一点，别吵到别人。(Walk more softly — don't disturb others.)

Don't Say

• 不要用轻来形容颜色浅 (Don't use 轻 for light colours — use 浅 instead; 轻 only refers to weight or gentleness, not colour lightness)

Origin & History

Phonosemantic compound: 车 (chē, vehicle) as the semantic radical + 巠 (jīng) as the phonetic component. The vehicle radical suggests something related to transport — light loads are easier to carry.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal