Meanings of 湎
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About 湎
Podcast: 湎
Podcast: 湎
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AI Study Notes for 湎
This character is rarely used in modern spoken Mandarin, often replaced by simpler terms for 'drunk'. Be cautious with its formal tone; it's more appropriate for literary and poetic contexts rather than casual conversation.
Since 湎 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is beneficial for learners to focus on commonly used terms for intoxication like 醉 (zuì). Understanding 湎 can deepen comprehension of literary texts where it may appear.
Learners may confuse 湎 with 醉 and use it in informal contexts. For instance, saying '我今天很湎' (wǒ jīntiān hěn miǎn) would be incorrect; instead, use '我今天很醉' (wǒ jīntiān hěn zuì).
Pronunciation of 湎
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Etymology of 湎
A man's face 面 after drinking 氵; 面 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 湎
- 1The giveawayA man's face 面 after drinking 氵; 面 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 湎? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 湎?
Decomposition of 湎
Identify the Components
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How to say drunk, flushed in Chinese
“drunk, flushed” in Chinese is湎
The character 湎 (miǎn) means to be drunk or flushed, often referring to a state of intoxication or a rosy complexion due to alcohol consumption. It is less commonly used in everyday conversation but can appear in literary contexts or discussions about drinking culture.
When to use 湎
This character is rarely used in modern spoken Mandarin, often replaced by simpler terms for 'drunk'. Be cautious with its formal tone; it's more appropriate for literary and poetic contexts rather than casual conversation.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 湎 with 醉 and use it in informal contexts. For instance, saying '我今天很湎' (wǒ jīntiān hěn miǎn) would be incorrect; instead, use '我今天很醉' (wǒ jīntiān hěn zuì).
Write 湎
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Practice writing 湎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 湎
湎 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
他沉____于过去的记忆。
He had clung to the remembrance of things past.
Example Sentences for 湎 (1)
Reorder the Sentence
He had clung to the remembrance of things past.
Word Family of 湎
Compound Meaning
What does 沉湎 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 湎
No, 湎 is more often found in literary contexts and is not a common term in everyday speech.
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