Usage note
新用来形容事物或情况是第一次出现或者刚刚开始。
xīn lái xiě míng róng shì wù huò kuàng kāng shì yì cì chū xiàn huò jiāng jiāo bāng shǐ.
新 is used to describe things or situations that are first appearing or just beginning.
Context note
新常用于描述事物或情况的变化，比如新的衣服、新的学校。
xīn cháng yòng lái xǔ sù shì wù huò kuàng kāng huà biàn, bǐ rú xīn de yī fú, xīn de xué xiào.
新 is commonly used to describe changes in things or situations, such as new clothes and a new school.
5 examples
这是一本新的书。
zhè shì yì běn xīn de shū。
This is a new book.
我们今天开始新课程。
wǒ men jīn tiān kāi shǐ xīn kè chéng。
We are starting a new course today.
妈妈给我买了一件新的衣服。
mā ma gěi wǒ mǎi le yí jiàn xīn de yī fu。
Mom bought me a new piece of clothing.
新学期开始了。
xīn xué qī kāi shǐ le。
The new semester has started.
新的朋友总是令人开心的。
xīn de péng yǒu zǒng shì lìng rén kāi xīn de。
New friends are always joyful.
5 mini stories
小明今天开始新课程，他很高兴。
xiǎo míng jīn tiān kāi shǐ xīn kè chéng， tā hěn gāo xìng。
Xiaoming started a new course today and he was very happy.
妈妈给小红买了一件新的衣服，她很开心。
mā ma gěi xiǎo hóng mǎi le yí jiàn xīn de yī fu， tā hěn kāi xīn。
Mom bought Xiaohong a new piece of clothing and she was very happy.
新学期开始，小华感到很兴奋。
xīn xué qī kāi shǐ， xiǎo huá gǎn dào hěn xīng fèn。
With the start of a new semester, Xiaohua felt very excited.
小丽交了一个新的朋友，她觉得很开心。
xiǎo lì jiāo le yí gè xīn de péng yǒu， tā jué de hěn kāi xīn。
Xiaoli made a new friend and she felt very happy.
新来的老师给同学们带来了新的课程。
xīn lái de lǎo shī gěi tóng xué men dài lái le xīn de kè chéng。
The new teacher brought new courses to the students.
Mini dialogue
新书包
A
你的书包是新的吗？
Nǐ de shūbāo shì xīn de ma?
Is your schoolbag new?
B
是的，这是新书包。
Shì de, zhè shì xīn shūbāo.
Yes, this is a new schoolbag.
新朋友
A
他是谁？
Tā shì shéi?
Who is he?
B
他是我的新朋友。
Tā shì wǒ de xīn péngyou.
He is my new friend.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
旧
jiù
old; used
Describes something not new
contrast
老
lǎo
old (for people or things)
Often used for age, while 新 is for condition