习惯
habit; to be accustomed to
HSK level
- Pinyin
- xíguàn
- Part of speech
- noun
- Level
- HSK 3
- Strokes
- 14
- Register
- neutral
- Measure word
- 个 / 种
- In episodes
- 3
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
Memory hook: 习 (practice) + 惯 (accustomed) — what you practice enough becomes a habit you're accustomed to.
Hear 习惯 in real episodes
习惯 appears in 3 Fluentide podcast episodes at natural native speed. Each sentence plays at the easiest difficulty it exists in — switch it to hear the same moment at your level, with full pinyin and English throughout.
现在，很多人习惯在网上买吃的，一边看直播，一边就下单了。
These days, lots of people are used to buying food online, placing an order while watching a livestream.
Fake Honey, Fake Camel Milk, Diet Sweets and 'Ghost Takeout': China's Top Court Publishes Typical Online Food-Safety Crimes
背景是这样的：公司里一位叫斯图的高层，对自己的睡眠习惯非常热情，常常跟人说休息有多重要。
The background: a senior executive named Stew is passionate about his own sleep routine and is always telling people how important rest is.
The Economist's Joke Memo: A Company Tries to Fix Its Staff's Sleep, and Everything Goes WrongAdvanced
有时候只是因为大家都习惯了它应该贵。
Sometimes it is expensive only because everyone has got used to the idea that it should be.
Caviar Got Cheap Enough to Feed a Toddler — and a Big Reason Is Chinese Fish FarmsIntermediate
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
Synonyms
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.
Don't confuse 习惯 with
Frequently asked questions
Related words from the same episodes
Acquire it by listening
Meet 习惯 again — in real Chinese, at your level.
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