'Yíng xīn' literally combines 'yíng' (to welcome, receive) and 'xīn' (new), forming a compound meaning 'to welcome the new'. It most commonly refers to welcoming new students at the start of an academic year — a major campus event in China involving orientation activities, performances, and guidance. The term carries warm, celebratory connotations and reflects cultural emphasis on hospitality and fresh beginnings.

Beyond education, 'yíng xīn' also appears in seasonal or ceremonial contexts, such as welcoming spring ('yíng xīn chūn') during Lunar New Year preparations, symbolizing renewal and hope. Though the characters individually are common, the compound is typically used as a fixed noun or verb phrase — not broken apart in speech — and rarely modified with adverbs or aspect particles unless explicitly verbalized (e.g., 'yíng xīn huó dòng' for 'welcome-the-new activity').