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March 24, 2026
浑(渾)hún(hun2)
The character 浑 (hún) primarily means 'muddy' or 'turbid,' often used to describe liquids that are not clear due to impurities. It can also refer to the act of mixing or blending different substances together. This word is often used in both literal contexts, such as describing water quality, and metaphorical contexts, like discussing mixed feelings or thoughts.
Strokes9Radical氵Frequency#7725DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, clear water is often associated with purity and clarity of mind, while muddy water, represented by 浑, can symbolize confusion or moral ambiguity. This character may appear in discussions about philosophical concepts or in poetry that contrasts clarity and muddiness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a muddy river where the waters are all mixed together, making it hard to see through. The character 浑 has the water radical 氵 on the left, representing water, and the component 含 on the right, which sounds like 'hún,' reminding you of the muddy, blended state of the river.
Meanings of 浑
hún(hun2)
1muddy
2to mix
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 浑
浑Simplified
渾Traditional
9Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7725Frequency Rank
Podcast: 浑
Podcast: 浑
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AI Study Notes for 浑
Quick Contrast
浑 (hún) vs 混 (hùn) — use 浑 when specifically referring to muddy or turbid liquids, while 混 is more general for mixing or blending.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a muddy river where the waters are all mixed together, making it hard to see through. The character 浑 has the water radical 氵 on the left, representing water, and the component 含 on the right, which sounds like 'hún,' reminding you of the muddy, blended state of the river.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 浑 with similar-sounding characters like 混 (hùn), which also means to mix but has different usage contexts. While 浑 is more focused on muddiness, 混 can imply more general mixing or blending. The tone of 'hún' should be pronounced with a rising tone, which is crucial to convey the correct meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 浑 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3 words like 水 (water) and 混 (to mix). Focus on practicing the pronunciation and understanding the context in which it is used to enhance your vocabulary related to liquids and mixtures.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, clear water is often associated with purity and clarity of mind, while muddy water, represented by 浑, can symbolize confusion or moral ambiguity. This character may appear in discussions about philosophical concepts or in poetry that contrasts clarity and muddiness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write 混 when they mean 浑, thinking both are interchangeable. Remember, 浑 emphasizes the muddiness aspect, so use 浑 when describing something that is turbid or unclear.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 浑
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Grammar Patterns of 浑
浑 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.
Already, both sides are jockeying to belittle the other side.
7
四天的旅行后她感到浑身上下十分疼痛.
sì tiān de lǚ háng hòu tā gǎn dào hún shēn shàng xià shí fēn téng tòng.
She had aches and pains all over after the four - day trip.
8
杰罗尔德又笑了，声音浑厚而圆润。
jié luó ěr dé yòu xiào le， ， shēng yīn hún hòu ér yuán。
Jerrold laughed again, a solid, fruity laugh.
9
他们不停地提出其他政治问题，力图把水搅浑。
tā mén bù tíng dì tí chū qí tā zhèng zhì wèn tí， ， lì tú bǎ shuǐ jiǎo。
They keep on muddying the waters by raising other political issues.
10
她吓得浑身直冒冷汗.
tā xià dé hún shēn zhí mào lěng hàn.
She was so scared that she broke out in a cold sweat.
Cultural Notes for 浑
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, clear water is often associated with purity and clarity of mind, while muddy water, represented by 浑, can symbolize confusion or moral ambiguity. This character may appear in discussions about philosophical concepts or in poetry that contrasts clarity and muddiness.
Word Family of 浑
Words Containing This Character20
浑身húnshēnall over渾身
浑húnmuddy渾
浑蛋scoundrel渾蛋
浑浊muddy渾濁
浑然completely渾然
浑浑噩噩muddleheaded渾渾噩噩
浑厚simple and honest渾厚
浑身解数to give it your all渾身解數
雄浑vigorous雄渾
浑然一体to blend into one another渾然一體
浑河Hun River渾河
浑圆perfectly round渾圓
浑水摸鱼to fish in troubled water (idiom); to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain渾水摸魚
浑然天成to resemble nature itself渾然天成
吐谷浑Tuyuhun, a Xianbei 鮮卑|鲜卑 nomadic people吐谷渾
浑然不知to be totally oblivious (to sth)渾然不知
浑源县Hunyuan county in Datong 大同[Dàtóng], Shanxi渾源縣
浑如very similar渾如
浑源Hunyuan county in Datong 大同[Dàtóng], Shanxi渾源
浑天仪armillary sphere (astronomy)渾天儀
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 浑身 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 浑
Yes, 浑 can be used in both spoken and written Chinese, especially in contexts discussing water quality or mixed substances.
Absolutely! It can describe mixed emotions or unclear thoughts, just like it describes muddy water.
While both can mean to mix, 浑 specifically refers to muddy or turbid mixtures, whereas 混 can have a broader meaning of mixing or blending.
