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澇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
澇làoto inundate, to flood; torrentzg, 15 strokes, radical 氵
lào(lao4)lao T4
  1. 1to inundate, to flood; torrent
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March 24, 2026

澇lào(lao4)

The character 澇 (lào) refers to the act of inundating or flooding, particularly associated with water overflowing areas or causing significant torrents. It is often used in contexts related to natural disasters, such as floods, and can describe both literal and figurative inundation.

Strokes15Radical氵
Cultural note

Flooding is a significant concern in many parts of China, particularly in regions like the Yangtze River Basin, where seasonal floods can have devastating impacts. The character 澇 reflects this cultural awareness and the importance of water management in Chinese society.

Memory tip

Imagine a large wave crashing down, symbolizing the flood represented by 澇. The water radical 水 (water) reminds you of the character's meaning, while the 'là' sound can be likened to the sound of rushing water. Visualize a torrent sweeping everything away, emphasizing both the sound and the meaning.

Meanings of 澇

lào(lao4)
1to inundate, to flood; torrent
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 澇 means.

About 澇

澇Simplified
15Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 澇

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Podcast: 澇

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AI study notes for 澇

Quick Contrast

淹 (yān) - use 澇 (lào) when emphasizing the overwhelming nature of flooding, while 淹 (yān) focuses more on the act of submerging.

Usage Notes

澇 is typically used in more formal or literary contexts, often describing severe flooding situations. Learners should avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that describe less severe water events, such as rain (雨, yǔ). Pay attention to the tone; a mispronunciation can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 澇 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 3 water-related words like 水 (water) and 河 (river). Focus on understanding the context of natural disasters as this can enhance comprehension of related vocabulary and phrases.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 澇 (lào) with related terms like 漂 (piāo), which means to float. For example, saying '我家被漂' (wǒ jiā bèi piāo) instead of '我家被澇' (wǒ jiā bèi lào) demonstrates a misunderstanding of the flood context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 澇

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Etymology of 澇

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

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 劳 represents the sound. Simplified form of 澇.

Memory hint

water

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

Origin

澇 = 氵 + 勞. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 澇

IDS Structure⿰氵勞
澇Full character
=
氵shui3
left
勞lao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 澇?

How to say to inundate, to flood; torrent in Chinese

“to inundate, to flood; torrent” in Chinese is澇lào

The character 澇 (lào) refers to the act of inundating or flooding, particularly associated with water overflowing areas or causing significant torrents. It is often used in contexts related to natural disasters, such as floods, and can describe both literal and figurative inundation.

When to use 澇

澇 is typically used in more formal or literary contexts, often describing severe flooding situations. Learners should avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that describe less severe water events, such as rain (雨, yǔ). Pay attention to the tone; a mispronunciation can change the meaning.

澇 or something close to it

淹 (yān) - use 澇 (lào) when emphasizing the overwhelming nature of flooding, while 淹 (yān) focuses more on the act of submerging.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 澇 (lào) with related terms like 漂 (piāo), which means to float. For example, saying '我家被漂' (wǒ jiā bèi piāo) instead of '我家被澇' (wǒ jiā bèi lào) demonstrates a misunderstanding of the flood context.

Write 澇

澇

Practice writing 澇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 澇

Words containing this character6
洪涝flood洪澇
涝làoflooded澇
排涝to drain flooded fields排澇
内涝waterlogged內澇
旱涝保收to bring a stable income旱澇保收
抗涝defenses against floods抗澇
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 澇

What does 洪涝 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 澇

Phrases such as '洪水澇' (hóngshuǐ lào) meaning 'flood inundation' are commonly used in discussions about flooding.

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