verb / adjective HSK 3
Traditional 現
to appear · to show · present · current · now
Meaning
现 means 'to appear' or 'to manifest' as a verb, and 'present' or 'current' as an adjective. It's commonly used in compounds referring to the present time or现实 (reality). As a character, it conveys the idea of something becoming visible or existing in the current moment.
Usage
现 rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It almost always appears in compound words like 现在 (now), 出现 (to appear), 现实 (reality), or 发现 (to discover). When used as an adjective meaning 'current,' it typically comes before nouns, as in 现任 (current office holder) or 现状 (current situation).
Examples
- 01问题出现了，我们必须马上解决。, .A problem has appeared; we must solve it immediately.
- 02他的表现让大家很满意。.His performance made everyone very satisfied.
Common collocations
- 现场scene, site, on the spot
- 现金cash
- 现代modern, contemporary
- 表现to show, to display, performance
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 現 combines 玉 (jade) and 見 (to see), originally suggesting 'to see jade' or precious things becoming visible. The simplified form 现 uses 王 instead of 玉.