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浴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
bathn, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5395, Hard
to bathen, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5395, Hard
to bathe, to shower, to washn, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #5395, Hard
(yu4) T4
  1. 1bath
  2. 2to bathe
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(yu4)

The character 浴 (yù) primarily refers to the act of bathing or taking a bath. It can be used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as discussing hygiene or relaxation. In everyday conversation, it is often associated with bathing facilities or practices.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#5395DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, taking a bath is often associated with relaxation and self-care, and traditional Chinese baths may incorporate herbs for health benefits. Bathhouses are also popular social spaces.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large pool (水) where people go to wash away their worries (浴). The character 浴 resembles the flowing water of a river, hinting at the refreshing nature of a bath.

Meanings of 浴

(yu4)
1bath
2to bathe
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 浴

Simplified
10Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5395Frequency Rank

Podcast: 浴

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 浴

Quick Contrast

洗 (xǐ) - pick 浴 (yù) when referring specifically to bathing as a practice, while 洗 (xǐ) is more general and can refer to washing any object.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a large pool (水) where people go to wash away their worries (浴). The character 浴 resembles the flowing water of a river, hinting at the refreshing nature of a bath.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of using 浴 in formal contexts, as it may sound overly sophisticated for casual conversations. Common collocations include 浴室 (bathroom) and 洗浴 (to wash/bathe). Mispronouncing it with a different tone can lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

Although 浴 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with HSK Level 3 words related to daily activities, like 洗 (to wash) and 水 (water). Students should focus on the context in which bathing occurs in daily life.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, taking a bath is often associated with relaxation and self-care, and traditional Chinese baths may incorporate herbs for health benefits. Bathhouses are also popular social spaces.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 浴 (yù) with 洗 (xǐ), which means 'to wash'. A common mistake is saying '洗浴' to mean 'to bathe' when it should be '洗'. The correct usage is '洗澡' for 'to take a shower'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 浴

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Etymology of 浴

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 谷 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

water

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 浴?

Decomposition of 浴

IDS Structure⿰氵谷
Full Character
=
shui3
left
gu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 浴?

Write 浴

Practice writing 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 浴

浴 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

Complete the Sentence

附近有一片白色沙滩,是沐日光____的绝佳场所。

Nearby there is a stretch of white sand beach perfect for sunbathing.

Example Sentences for 浴 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
附近有一片白色沙滩,是沐日光浴的绝佳场所。

fù jìn yǒu yī piàn bái sè shā tān, , shì mù rì guāng yù de jué jiā cháng。

Nearby there is a stretch of white sand beach perfect for sunbathing.
2
用舒缓沐浴油洗个热水澡吧。

yòng shū huǎn mù yù yóu xǐ gè rè shuǐ zǎo bā。

Try a hot bath with some relaxing bath oil.
3
卫生间里装了两个抽水马桶、两个淋浴器、和两个洗脸盆。

wèi shēng jiān lǐ zhuāng le liǎng gè chōu shuǐ mǎ tǒng、 、 liǎng gè lín yù、 qì 、 hé liǎng gè xǐ。

The bathroom is furnished with 2 toilets, 2 showers, and 2 sinks.
4
我想晚餐前洗个淋浴。

wǒ xiǎng wǎn cān qián xǐ gè lín yù。

I think I'll have a shower before dinner.
5
300个布置讲究的房间全都配有独立浴室。

300 300 gè bù zhì jiǎng jiū de fáng jiān quán dū pèi yǒu dú lì yù。

All 300 elegantly furnished rooms have private bath.
6
洗桑拿浴如果方法不当会有危险,浴前切忌饱食。

xǐ sāng ná yù rú guǒ fāng fǎ bù dāng huì yǒu wēi xiǎn, , yù qián qiē jì bǎo。

Saunas can be hazardous if misused. Avoid a big meal beforehand.
7
特别推荐想要放松情绪、缓解肌肉酸痛的人泡泥浆浴。

tè bié tuī jiàn xiǎng yào fàng sōng qíng xù、 、 huǎn jiě jī ròu suān tòng de rén pào ní jiāng。

The Mud Bath is particularly recommended for relieving tension and stiff muscles.
8
我挣扎着穿上浴衣,踉跄地下了楼。

wǒ zhèng zā zháo chuān shàng yù yī, , liáng qiāng dì xià le。

I struggled into a bathrobe and staggered down the stairs.
9
他们聊天时会在阳台上抖搂浴巾。

tā mén liáo tiān shí huì zài yáng tái shàng dǒu lǒu yù jīn。

They would flap bath towels from their balconies as they chatted.
10
他手捂住嘴向浴室冲去。

tā shǒu wǔ zhù zuǐ xiàng yù shì chōng qù。

Hand clamped over his mouth, he made a dash for the bathroom.

Cultural Notes for 浴

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, taking a bath is often associated with relaxation and self-care, and traditional Chinese baths may incorporate herbs for health benefits. Bathhouses are also popular social spaces.

Word Family of 浴

Words Containing This Character17
bath
浴室yùshìbathroom (room used for bathing)
浴缸bathtub
沐浴mùyùto bathe
淋浴shower
洗浴to bathe
浴盆bathtub
浴巾bath towel
日光浴sunbathing
浴池public bath
浴场bathing spot浴場
浴衣bathrobe
浴血blood-soaked
浴帽shower cap
浴液body wash
盆浴bathtub
澡身浴德cleanliness is next to godliness
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 浴 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 浴

Common phrases include 浴室 (bathroom) and 洗浴 (to bathe).