to request, to ask a favor; to pollute, to contaminate
zg, 10 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
浼
měi
to ask a favor of
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
měi(mei3) T3
1to request, to ask a favor; to pollute, to contaminate
2to ask a favor of
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March 24, 2026
浼měi(mei3)
The character 浼 (měi) primarily means to request or ask for a favor, often in a context where one seeks assistance from someone else. It also carries the connotation of polluting or contaminating, especially in discussions about environmental issues, where it indicates the act of tainting water or other resources. Understanding the dual meanings helps in grasping its use in both social and environmental contexts.
Strokes10Radical氵Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, asking for favors is often tied to the concept of 'guanxi' (关系), or relationships, where favors can strengthen social bonds. Understanding this character may help learners navigate social interactions more effectively.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river (the radical '水' for water) that is being polluted (the meaning of 'contaminate') while someone is asking (the phonetic 'měi' sounds like 'may I?') for a favor to help clean it up. Picture someone standing by the river, saying 'May I request your help to make this water clean again?' This vivid imagery links the character's components to its meanings.
Meanings of 浼
měi(mei3)
1to request, to ask a favor; to pollute, to contaminate
2to ask a favor of
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 浼
浼Simplified
10Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 浼
Podcast: 浼
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AI Study Notes for 浼
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a river (the radical '水' for water) that is being polluted (the meaning of 'contaminate') while someone is asking (the phonetic 'měi' sounds like 'may I?') for a favor to help clean it up. Picture someone standing by the river, saying 'May I request your help to make this water clean again?' This vivid imagery links the character's components to its meanings.
Usage Notes
When using 浼, it's important to be aware that it is more formal and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 浼求 (to request) and 浼贿 (to bribe), which may carry negative connotations. Be cautious with the tones; many learners confuse it with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 浼 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to HSK Level 4 words about requests and favors, such as 要求 (yāoqiú, to demand/request). Students should focus on the usage of formal request structures as they expand their vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, asking for favors is often tied to the concept of 'guanxi' (关系), or relationships, where favors can strengthen social bonds. Understanding this character may help learners navigate social interactions more effectively.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 浼 with similar-sounding characters like 媚 (mèi, to ingratiate). For example, saying '我浼你' (Wǒ měi nǐ) instead of '我请求你' (Wǒ qǐngqiú nǐ) for 'I request you' can lead to misunderstandings. Always use the correct character based on the context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 浼
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Cultural Notes for 浼
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, asking for favors is often tied to the concept of 'guanxi' (关系), or relationships, where favors can strengthen social bonds. Understanding this character may help learners navigate social interactions more effectively.
Word Family of 浼
Words Containing This Character1
浼měito ask a favor of
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 浼 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 浼
You can say '我想要浼你帮我' (Wǒ xiǎng yào měi nǐ bāng wǒ), meaning 'I would like to ask you for help.'
Common collocations include 浼求 (to request) and 浼助 (to ask for assistance).
No, 浼 is more formal and is not commonly used in everyday conversation. It's often found in written contexts or formal requests.
