崭新

• Pinyin: zhǎn xīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 崭 = 山 + 斩 (prominent); 新 = 立 + 木 + 斤 (new)

Meaning

Brand-new; completely new. Something entirely fresh without any wear or previous use.

Emphasizes the fresh, unused quality more strongly than just 新. Can describe physical items or abstract concepts like 崭新的时代 (a brand-new era), 崭新的面貌 (a completely new appearance). Often used for emphasis.

Examples

1. 她买了一件崭新的裙子，准备参加周末的派对。 She bought a brand-new dress to wear to the party this weekend.
2. 经过翻新，这栋老建筑焕发出崭新的面貌。 After renovation, the old building has taken on a completely new look.
3. 新学期开始，学生们拿到了崭新的课本。 At the start of the new semester, the students received brand-new textbooks.

Usage Guide

Context: descriptions, purchases, changes

Tone: positive/fresh

Do Say

• 公司搬进了崭新的办公楼，工作环境大为改善。(The company moved into a brand-new office building, greatly improving the work environment.)
• 这是一个崭新的开始，过去的失败都已成为过去。(This is a brand-new start; past failures are now behind us.)

Don't Say

• 崭新的旧书 — 崭新 means completely new, contradicting 旧; say 保存完好的旧书 instead

Origin & History

崭 (lofty/prominent) + 新 (new)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal