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March 24, 2026
淪lún(lun2)
The character 淪 (lún) means to sink or submerge, often used in the context of something being lost or perishing. It can describe both physical sinking, such as a ship going under, and metaphorical loss, such as a person falling into despair or a situation deteriorating.
Strokes11Radical氵Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of sinking or perishing often relates to historical events, such as the sinking of ships during wars or the loss of traditional values in modern society, reflecting deeper societal concerns.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large ship (the radical 水, meaning water) that has been caught in a storm and is now sinking beneath the waves. The sound 'lún' can be remembered as the sound of a forlorn sailor lamenting his fate as he sinks into the depths.
Meanings of 淪
lún(lun2)
1sunk, submerged; to perish, to be lost
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 淪
淪Simplified
11Strokes
氵Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 淪
Podcast: 淪
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AI Study Notes for 淪
Quick Contrast
沉 (chén) — use 淪 when emphasizing a loss or decline, while 沉 focuses on the physical act of sinking.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large ship (the radical 水, meaning water) that has been caught in a storm and is now sinking beneath the waves. The sound 'lún' can be remembered as the sound of a forlorn sailor lamenting his fate as he sinks into the depths.
Usage Notes
淪 is often used in formal contexts, especially in literature or discussions about moral decline or loss. Be cautious with its tone; the pronunciation 'lún' must be clear to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 淪落 (lúnluò, to fall into misfortune) and 淪陷 (lúntiàn, to be trapped).
HSK Study Tips
While 淪 is not included in the official HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 5 and above who wish to expand their vocabulary related to emotions and states of being. Focus on understanding its usage in literary texts or discussions about loss.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of sinking or perishing often relates to historical events, such as the sinking of ships during wars or the loss of traditional values in modern society, reflecting deeper societal concerns.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 淪 with 沉 (chén), leading to sentences like '船淪了' when they mean '船沉了' (the ship sank). Remember, 淪 has a connotation of loss or decline, while 沉 is strictly about sinking.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 淪
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Cultural Notes for 淪
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of sinking or perishing often relates to historical events, such as the sinking of ships during wars or the loss of traditional values in modern society, reflecting deeper societal concerns.
Word Family of 淪
Words Containing This Character11
沦落to degenerate淪落
沦为to sink down to淪為
沉沦downfall沉淪
沦陷to be occupied淪陷
沦lúnto be reduced to淪
沦丧to be lost淪喪
沦陷区enemy-held territory淪陷區
沦亡to be annexed淪亡
沦没to sink淪沒
沦灭to perish淪滅
沦肌浃髓moved to the core淪肌浹髓
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 沦落 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 淪
You can say '他淪落到無家可歸的地步' (He has sunk to the point of being homeless).
While both mean to sink, 淪 emphasizes the loss or degradation aspect, whereas 沉 focuses more on the physical act of sinking.
It is more commonly found in written Chinese or formal speech rather than everyday conversation.
