Meanings of 呑
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About 呑
Podcast: 呑
Podcast: 呑
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AI Study Notes for 呑
吞 (tūn) vs 吃 (chī) — choose 呑 (tūn) when emphasizing the act of swallowing or absorption, while 吃 (chī) refers more generally to eating.
Use 呑 primarily in informal contexts when talking about eating or drinking. A common mistake is to confuse it with 嚥 (yàn), which specifically means 'to swallow' in a medical sense. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning of the word entirely.
Although 呑 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with verbs related to eating and drinking present in lower HSK levels. Students should focus on differentiating it from similar characters and using it in practical sentences.
Learners often mistakenly use 呑 when they mean to say 嚥, especially in medical contexts. For example, saying '我呑药' (I swallow medicine) should be corrected to '我嚥药' for proper usage.
Pronunciation of 呑
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Etymology of 呑
mouth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 呑
- 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
- 2The giveawaymouth
- 3On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Decomposition of 呑
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How to say to swallow; to absorb in Chinese
“to swallow; to absorb” in Chinese is呑
The character 呑 (tūn) means 'to swallow' or 'to absorb.' It is often used in contexts related to eating, drinking, or figuratively consuming information or experiences. This character conveys the action of taking something in completely, whether it be food or knowledge.
When to use 呑
Use 呑 primarily in informal contexts when talking about eating or drinking. A common mistake is to confuse it with 嚥 (yàn), which specifically means 'to swallow' in a medical sense. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning of the word entirely.
呑 or something close to it
吞 (tūn) vs 吃 (chī) — choose 呑 (tūn) when emphasizing the act of swallowing or absorption, while 吃 (chī) refers more generally to eating.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 呑 when they mean to say 嚥, especially in medical contexts. For example, saying '我呑药' (I swallow medicine) should be corrected to '我嚥药' for proper usage.
Write 呑
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Practice writing 呑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions about 呑
Yes, 呑 can refer to swallowing both solid and liquid items.
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