新
xīn
One untouched surface, five kinds of new
The picture A surface so untouched that the light lies flat on it and no fingerprint breaks it. 新 is the surface no hand has touched yet; 旧 is the surface hands have worn down.
Where the picture shows up in 新
-
object, unused
这是新买的手机。
zhè shì xīn mǎi de shǒujī
This is the phone I just bought.
The plastic film is peeled off and the screen throws the light back without a single fingerprint
-
person, newly arrived
他是我们的新同事。
tā shì wǒmen de xīn tóngshì
He is our new colleague.
The office door opens and someone stands there whose desk has not been assigned yet
-
a fresh start
明天开始新的工作。
míngtiān kāishǐ xīn de gōngzuò
I start a new job tomorrow.
An empty notebook lies open on the desk with only the first line filled in
-
just done
这个号码是新换的。
zhège hàomǎ shì xīn huàn de
This number is the new one — I changed it.
A number rubbed out and a different one written into the blank space a moment ago
Used before a verb it works like 'newly, just'
-
news, latest
有新消息吗？
yǒu xīn xiāoxi ma
Any new updates?
A line blinking at the very top of the screen, posted seconds ago
All of it in one picture
新 is the state of carrying no marks yet. On an object that surface is brand new; on a person standing in a room for the first time it is the newcomer; on a notebook with only the first line written it is a fresh start; on a space you just wrote into it becomes 'just changed'; on the top line of a screen it becomes the latest news.