Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
沈chén(chen2)
The character 沈 (chén) primarily means 'to sink' or 'to submerge.' It is often used in contexts where something is submerged in water or figuratively when referring to being deeply involved or addicted to something. Additionally, it serves as a common surname in Chinese culture.
Strokes7Radical氵Frequency#24775DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The surname 沈 (Shěn) is historically significant, with notable figures in Chinese history and literature, such as Shen Kuo, a prominent scientist and philosopher of the Song Dynasty. It is also associated with several places in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a heavy stone (the radical 水, meaning water) sinking deep into a lake, illustrating both the meaning of 'to sink' and the pronunciation 'chén.' Visualize a person being submerged in their favorite activity, emphasizing the concept of addiction.
Meanings of 沈
chén(chen2)
primary
1to sink, to submerge; addicted; surname
2place name
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 沈
沈Simplified
7Strokes
氵Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 沈
Podcast: 沈
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 沈
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a heavy stone (the radical 水, meaning water) sinking deep into a lake, illustrating both the meaning of 'to sink' and the pronunciation 'chén.' Visualize a person being submerged in their favorite activity, emphasizing the concept of addiction.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 沈 (chén) with the similar-sounding 沉 (chén), which also means 'to sink' but has a slightly different nuance. The character is more commonly used in formal contexts as a surname. Common collocations include 沉迷 (chénmí), meaning 'to be addicted to.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 沈 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other words related to water and depth, such as 浸 (jìn, to soak) and 沉 (chén, to sink). Focus on recognizing its use in literature or formal texts to gain a deeper understanding.
Cultural Note
The surname 沈 (Shěn) is historically significant, with notable figures in Chinese history and literature, such as Shen Kuo, a prominent scientist and philosopher of the Song Dynasty. It is also associated with several places in China.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 沈 (chén) with 沉 (chén), using them interchangeably. For example, saying 沉入水中 instead of 沈入水中 is incorrect; the correct phrase for 'to sink into the water' is 沈入水中.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 沈
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 沈 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 沈 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 沈
沈 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
____阳哪里有卖通化东宝生产的胰岛素?
Does Shenyang where have the insulin that sells a Hua Dongbao production?
Example Sentences for 沈 (7)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
沈阳哪里有卖通化东宝生产的胰岛素?
shěn yáng nǎ lǐ yǒu mài tōng huà dōng bǎo shēng chǎn de yí dǎo sù?
Does Shenyang where have the insulin that sells a Hua Dongbao production?
Room 401 , Building 1, Zhongxin lane 5, Peace street ( south ) , Shengyang city, Liaonin province, China.
7
看他, 是因为他和沈殿霞这些大头风风光光.
kàn tā, , shì yīn wéi tā hé shěn diàn xiá zhè xiē dà tóu fēng fēng guāng.
Looks at him, is because he and Shen Dianxia ends sight.
Cultural Notes for 沈
🏮Cultural insight
The surname 沈 (Shěn) is historically significant, with notable figures in Chinese history and literature, such as Shen Kuo, a prominent scientist and philosopher of the Song Dynasty. It is also associated with several places in China.
Word Family of 沈
Words Containing This Character13
沈chénsurname Shen
沈阳old names include Fengtian 奉天, Shengjing 盛京 and Mukden瀋陽
沈阳市old names include Fengtian 奉天, Shengjing 盛京 and Mukden瀋陽市
沈从文Shen Congwen (1902-1988), novelist沈從文
沈河区Shenhe district of Shenyang city 瀋陽市|沈阳市, Liaoning沈河區
辽沈战役Liaoshen Campaign (Sep-Nov 1948), the first of the three major campaigns by the People's Liberation Army near the end of the Chinese Civil War遼瀋戰役
沈国放Shen Guofang (1952-), PRC assistant minister of foreign affairs (2003-2005)沈國放
沈丘县Shenqiu county in Zhoukou 周口[Zhōukǒu], Henan沈丘縣
沈丘Shenqiu county in Zhoukou 周口[Zhōukǒu], Henan
沈北新Shenbeixin district of Shenyang city 瀋陽市|沈阳市, Liaoning
沈复Shen Fu (1763-c. 1810), Qing dynasty writer, author of Six records of a floating life 浮生六記|浮生六记[fúshēngliùjì]沈復
沈莹Shen Ying of Wu, governor (268-280) of coastal province of Wu and compiler of Seaboard Geographic Gazetteer 臨海水土誌|临海水土志沈瑩
沈葆祯Shen Baozhen (1820-1879), Qing Minister of the Navy, founded Fuzhou Naval College 船政學堂|船政学堂[ChuánzhèngXuétáng] in 1866沈葆禎
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 沈 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 沈
沈 means 'to sink' or 'to submerge,' and it can also refer to a common Chinese surname.
You can use 沈 in contexts like 沈入水中 (shén rù shuǐ zhōng), meaning 'to sink into the water.'
沈 is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when referring to the action of sinking.
