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HSK 3

习惯

habit; to be accustomed to

nounneutral
习
xí2nd tone
惯
guàn4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
xíguàn
Part of speech
noun
Level
HSK 3
Strokes
14
Register
neutral
Measure word
个 / 种

Stroke order for 习惯

习惯 is written with 14 strokes (习: 3, 惯: 11). The animation replays automatically.

What does 习惯 mean?

习惯 (xíguàn) works as both a noun ('habit, custom') and a verb ('to be used to, to get accustomed to').

As a noun: 好习惯 (a good habit), 坏习惯 (a bad habit), 生活习惯 (lifestyle / daily habits). As a verb, it takes a direct object — the thing you've gotten used to: 我习惯了北京的天气 (I've gotten used to Beijing's weather). The completed-action particle 了 is very common after 习惯 to mark 'have become accustomed.'

Two contrasts with English: first, 'I'm not used to X' translates as 我不习惯 X, NOT 我没习惯 — use 不, not 没. Second, English 'habit' can be quirky/personal (a nervous habit) — for that, 毛病 or 习惯 both work, but 习惯 is more neutral. Built from 习 (to practice / study) + 惯 (accustomed).

Character by character

习xíto practice; to study
+
惯guànto be accustomed to
=
习惯

Memory hook: 习 (practice) + 惯 (accustomed) — what you practice enough becomes a habit you're accustomed to.

Example sentences

我习惯早睡早起。

Wǒ xíguàn zǎo shuì zǎo qǐ.

I'm used to going to bed early and getting up early.

neutral

这是一个好习惯。

Zhè shì yí gè hǎo xíguàn.

This is a good habit.

neutral

他不习惯一个人吃饭。

Tā bù xíguàn yí gè rén chī fàn.

He's not used to eating alone.

spoken

你习惯了北京的天气吗？

Nǐ xíguàn le Běijīng de tiānqì ma?

Have you gotten used to Beijing's weather?

spoken

每天看书是一种好的生活习惯。

Měi tiān kàn shū shì yì zhǒng hǎo de shēnghuó xíguàn.

Reading every day is a good lifestyle habit.

written

Common phrases with 习惯

好习惯hǎo xíguàna good habit
坏习惯huài xíguàna bad habit
生活习惯shēnghuó xíguànlifestyle; daily habits
习惯了xíguàn legot used to it
养成习惯yǎngchéng xíguànto form a habit

Synonyms

适应shìyìng

适应 means 'to adapt to' — emphasizes adjusting to a new environment. 习惯 emphasizes 'feels normal now / no longer bothers me.' 适应新工作 (adapt to a new job) vs 习惯新工作 (got used to the new job). They overlap, but 适应 is more active.

爱好àihào

爱好 means 'hobby / something you love to do' (positive, chosen). 习惯 is just 'a thing you regularly do,' good or bad. Reading every night could be either a 爱好 or a 习惯; biting your nails is only a 习惯.

Don't confuse 习惯 with

学习xuéxí

Both contain 习, but 学习 means 'to study / learn.' 习惯 means 'habit.' Don't mix them up: 我在学习中文 (I'm studying Chinese) vs 我有这个习惯 (I have this habit).

练习liànxí

练习 means 'to practice / exercise (n.)' — an activity you do to improve. 习惯 is the resulting routine. You 练习 the piano daily until it becomes a 习惯.

FAQ

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