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沲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
沲tuóto floatx, 8 strokes, radical 氵
tuó(tuo2)tuo T2
  1. 1to float
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March 24, 2026

沲tuó(tuo2)

The character 沲 (tuó) means 'to float' and is often used in contexts involving liquids or objects that are buoyant. It conveys the idea of something being suspended in water or air, indicating lightness or lack of grounding.

Strokes8Radical氵
Cultural note

The concept of floating is significant in Chinese culture, especially in relation to traditional festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival, where floating rice dumplings symbolize good fortune and the connection to water.

Memory tip

Imagine a boat (which can be represented by the water radical 沲) gently floating on the surface of a lake. The sound 'tuó' can be remembered by thinking of the word 'toddler,' who often floats on inflatable toys in the water, carefree and light.

Meanings of 沲

tuó(tuo2)
1to float
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 沲

沲Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 沲

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AI study notes for 沲

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 沲 (tuó) with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This character is more commonly used in literary or poetic contexts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations might include phrases related to floating objects or buoyancy.

HSK Study Tips

Although 沲 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to themes of nature and movement found in HSK levels. Students should focus on the pronunciation and potential collocations with other water-related words to enhance their vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 沲 (tuó) with similar characters related to sinking or diving, such as 沉 (chén). Remember, 沲 specifically refers to floating, not sinking.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 沲

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Etymology of 沲

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)也
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

沲 = 氵 + 也. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 沲

IDS Structure⿰氵⿱?也
沲Full character
=
氵shui3
left
也Ye3
top
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 沲?

How to say to float in Chinese

“to float” in Chinese is沲tuó

The character 沲 (tuó) means 'to float' and is often used in contexts involving liquids or objects that are buoyant. It conveys the idea of something being suspended in water or air, indicating lightness or lack of grounding.

When to use 沲

Be careful not to confuse 沲 (tuó) with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This character is more commonly used in literary or poetic contexts rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations might include phrases related to floating objects or buoyancy.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 沲 (tuó) with similar characters related to sinking or diving, such as 沉 (chén). Remember, 沲 specifically refers to floating, not sinking.

Write 沲

沲

Practice writing 沲 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently asked questions about 沲

The pronunciation is 'tuó' with a rising tone, similar to how you might emphasize the 'to' in 'to float'.

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