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#24775DifficultyVery Hard
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 沈 means.
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
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.
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.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 沈 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 沈?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 沈 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
沈 = 氵 + 冘. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 沈
IDS Structure⿰氵冘
沈Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
冘yin2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 沈?
How to say surname Shen in Chinese
“surname Shen” in Chinese is沈shěn
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.
When to use 沈
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.'
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 沈
沈
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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____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?
