What does 行 mean in Chinese?

行 (xíng) means "to walk; to go; to travel; a visit; temporary; makeshift; current; in circulation; to do; to perform; capable; competent; effective; all right; OK!; will do; behavior; conduct; Taiwan pr. [xing4] for the behavior-conduct sense" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 3.

How do you pronounce 行?

行 is pronounced "xíng" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 2.

What HSK level is 行?

行 is an HSK 3 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 4 on the old exam, HSK 3 on the new one.

What words contain the character 行?

Common words with 行 include 一行 (party), 不行 (won't do), 上行 ((of trains) up (i.e. towards the capital)), 下行 ((of trains) down (i.e. away from the capital)), 三人行 ((slang) threesome).

How do you write 行?

You can practice writing 行 using our stroke order tool.

行 (xíng), to walk

行

xíng

to walk; to go; to travel; a visit

HSK 3 Was HSK 4verb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 行 (no. 144)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to walk
to go
to travel
a visit
temporary
makeshift
current
in circulation
to do
to perform
capable
competent
effective
all right
OK!
will do
behavior
conduct
Taiwan pr. [xing4] for the behavior-conduct sense

Example Sentences

这样行吗？

Zhèyàng xíng ma

Is this OK?

Words Containing 行

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
一行	yī xíng	party	HSK 7-9
不行	bù xíng	won't do	HSK 3
上行	shàng xíng	(of trains) up (i.e. towards the capital)	HSK 7-9
下行	xià xíng	(of trains) down (i.e. away from the capital)	HSK 7-9

Related Words

走(zǒu)· to walk

→

走动(zǒu dòng)· to walk around

→

台胞证(Tái bāo zhèng)· Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents

→

来台(lái Tái)· to visit Taiwan (esp. from PRC)

→

Grammar Notes

Double 不 for EmphasisHSK 2

不 A 不 B OR 不...不 + Verb

Passive with 被HSK 3

Receiver + 被 + (Doer) + Verb + Complement/了

Existential 有 SentencesHSK 3

Place + 有 + (Number + Measure Word) + Noun

First...Then (先...再/然后)HSK 3

先 + Verb₁，再/然后 + Verb₂

Let Alone (别说...就是)HSK 4

别说 + Extreme Case + 了, 就是/连 + Lesser Case + 都/也 + Predicate

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 3
HSK 2.0: HSK 4
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

行: HSK 4 on the old exam, HSK 3 on the new one. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 3 exam

Studying for HSK 3? Keep 行 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 3 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.