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浊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
zhuóturbidn, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #51428, Very Hard
zhuómuddyn, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #51428, Very Hard
zhuóimpuren, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #51428, Very Hard
zhuódirty, filthy, muddy, turbidn, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #51428, Very Hard
zhuó(zhuo2) T2
  1. 1turbid
  2. 2muddy
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(濁)zhuó(zhuo2)

The character 浊 (zhuó) refers to something that is turbid, muddy, or impure, often used to describe liquids such as water that are not clear. It can also metaphorically describe things that are contaminated or morally impure. This term is commonly encountered in environmental discussions or when discussing the quality of substances.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#51428DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, water quality is an important issue, particularly given the country's efforts to combat pollution. The term 浊 is often used in media reports discussing environmental challenges, reflecting the societal concern for clean water.

Memory Tip

Imagine a muddy river where the water is not clear, symbolizing the character 浊. The left side (氵) represents water, while the right side (著) can remind you of something that is 'marked' or 'tainted.' Together, they evoke a vivid image of dirty water, making it easier to recall the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 浊

zhuó(zhuo2)
1turbid
2muddy
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 浊

Simplified
Traditional
9Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#51428Frequency Rank

Podcast: 浊

JasonAmy

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AI Study Notes for 浊

Quick Contrast

浊 (zhuó) vs 混 (hùn) — use 浊 for describing turbid or impure liquids specifically, while 混 can refer to a mixture or blending of substances.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a muddy river where the water is not clear, symbolizing the character 浊. The left side (氵) represents water, while the right side (著) can remind you of something that is 'marked' or 'tainted.' Together, they evoke a vivid image of dirty water, making it easier to recall the meaning and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 浊 with 清 (qīng), which means 'clear' or 'pure.' It's important to use 浊 in contexts involving impurities or dirtiness. Additionally, this word is more formal and may not be used in casual conversation; instead, phrases like 脏 (zāng) may be preferred for everyday use.

HSK Study Tips

While 浊 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK Level 4 vocabulary concerning environmental terms and health. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in context, especially when discussing water quality or environmental issues.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, water quality is an important issue, particularly given the country's efforts to combat pollution. The term 浊 is often used in media reports discussing environmental challenges, reflecting the societal concern for clean water.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mistakenly use 浊 to describe clear substances, like saying '这个水很浊' (This water is very turbid) when referring to clear water. The correct usage would be '这个水很清' (This water is very clear).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 浊

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Etymology of 浊

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A pond 氵 growing scum 虫

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 浊?

Decomposition of 浊

IDS Structure⿰氵虫
Full Character
=
shui3
left
chong2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 浊?

Write 浊

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

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Grammar Patterns of 浊

浊 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 4 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 2

Complete the Sentence

它的碗具粗糙,空气混____, 汤菜淡如水,餐巾薄如绢.

Its crockery and atmosphere were thick; its soup and napery thin.

Example Sentences for 浊 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
它的碗具粗糙,空气混浊, 汤菜淡如水,餐巾薄如绢.

tā de wǎn jù cū cāo, , kōng qì hùn, zhuó , tāng cài dàn, rú shuǐ , cān jīn.

Its crockery and atmosphere were thick; its soup and napery thin.
2
她把它扔进了混浊的河水深处.

tā bǎ tā rēng jìn le hùn zhuó de hé shuǐ shēn chǔ.

She threw it into the river's murky depths.

Cultural Notes for 浊

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, water quality is an important issue, particularly given the country's efforts to combat pollution. The term 浊 is often used in media reports discussing environmental challenges, reflecting the societal concern for clean water.

Word Family of 浊

Words Containing This Character13
污浊dirty污濁
浑浊muddy渾濁
zhuóturbid
混浊hùnzhuóturbid混濁
浊音voiced consonant (English z or v, as opposed to unvoiced s or f)濁音
浊度turbidity濁度
浊流turbid flow濁流
浊世the world in chaos濁世
激浊扬清eliminate vice and exalt virtue激濁揚清
白浊gonorrhea (TCM term)白濁
浊积岩turbidite (geology)濁積岩
恶浊filthy惡濁
扬清激浊eliminate vice and exalt virtue揚清激濁
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 污浊 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 浊

You can say '这条河水很浊' (This river's water is very turbid).