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March 24, 2026
沸fèi(fei4)
The character 沸 (fèi) means 'to boil' or 'to bubble up.' It is commonly used to describe the process of water reaching a high temperature where it starts to form bubbles, as well as in expressions related to enthusiasm or excitement simmering over. In cooking contexts, it signifies the boiling of liquids, such as water or broth.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#43622DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, boiling is a fundamental cooking technique, often used in soups and stews. The process of boiling is integral to traditional dishes, such as hot pot, where various ingredients are cooked in bubbling broth at the table.
Memory Tip
Think of a pot of water that is 'fèi' (fay) bubbling vigorously on the stove. The character contains the radical 'water' (水), which highlights its connection to liquids boiling. Imagine the sound of the water 'fèi' bubbling over, creating a lively scene in your kitchen.
Meanings of 沸
fèi(fei4)
1to boil
2to boil, to bubble up, to gush
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 沸
沸Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#43622Frequency Rank
Podcast: 沸
Podcast: 沸
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AI Study Notes for 沸
Quick Contrast
沸 (fèi) vs 烧 (shāo) — use 沸 when specifically referring to the boiling process, while 烧 indicates heating or cooking without necessarily reaching boiling point.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 沸 (fèi) with other similar-sounding characters like 费 (fèi), which means 'to spend' or 'to use.' It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but you might encounter it more often in culinary discussions. Common collocations include '沸腾' (fèiténg), meaning 'to boil vigorously.'
HSK Study Tips
While 沸 (fèi) is not included in the HSK levels, it is useful for learners at the intermediate stage (HSK 3-4) as it relates to everyday cooking vocabulary. Focus on its usage in context, especially with phrases that describe cooking methods and temperatures.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 沸 (fèi) with related cooking terms but use them incorrectly. For example, saying '我们沸水' (Wǒmen fèi shuǐ) is incorrect; the correct form is '我们煮水' (Wǒmen zhǔ shuǐ) when referring to cooking water.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 沸
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 弗 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half弗 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 沸? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 沸?
Decomposition of 沸
IDS Structure⿰氵弗
沸Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
弗fu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 沸?
How to say to boil in Chinese
“to boil” in Chinese is沸fèi
The character 沸 (fèi) means 'to boil' or 'to bubble up.' It is commonly used to describe the process of water reaching a high temperature where it starts to form bubbles, as well as in expressions related to enthusiasm or excitement simmering over. In cooking contexts, it signifies the boiling of liquids, such as water or broth.
When to use 沸
Be careful not to confuse 沸 (fèi) with other similar-sounding characters like 费 (fèi), which means 'to spend' or 'to use.' It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but you might encounter it more often in culinary discussions. Common collocations include '沸腾' (fèiténg), meaning 'to boil vigorously.'
沸 or something close to it
沸 (fèi) vs 烧 (shāo) — use 沸 when specifically referring to the boiling process, while 烧 indicates heating or cooking without necessarily reaching boiling point.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 沸 (fèi) with related cooking terms but use them incorrectly. For example, saying '我们沸水' (Wǒmen fèi shuǐ) is incorrect; the correct form is '我们煮水' (Wǒmen zhǔ shuǐ) when referring to cooking water.
Write 沸
沸
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Practice writing 沸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 沸
沸 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
同时，把碗置于微____的水上，将白巧克力放入碗中使其熔化。
Meanwhile, melt the white chocolate in a bowl suspended over simmering water.
