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濡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
to moisten, to immerse; wet, dampzg, 17 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
dilatoryunknown, 17 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
(ru2) T2
  1. 1to moisten, to immerse; wet, damp
  2. 2dilatory
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(ru2)

The character 濡 (rú) primarily means 'to moisten' or 'to immerse.' It is often used in contexts where something becomes wet or damp, and can also imply a sense of delay or being dilatory in action. This character is commonly found in literary or formal contexts, particularly when discussing water-related concepts.

Strokes17RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, water is often associated with emotions and states of being; thus, 濡 can evoke feelings of longing or nostalgia when discussing nature. The concept of immersion is also significant in traditional Chinese practices like Tai Chi, where fluid movements are essential.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sponge (the character's form) soaking up water (the meaning of 'moisten'). The left side of the character resembles a flowing river, while the right side can remind you of something being absorbed, helping you connect 'rú' with the idea of dampness and immersion.

Meanings of 濡

(ru2)
1to moisten, to immerse; wet, damp
2dilatory
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 濡

Simplified
17Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 濡

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AI Study Notes for 濡

Quick Contrast

湿 (shī, wet) — use 濡 when emphasizing the process of becoming wet, while 湿 describes a state of being wet.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a sponge (the character's form) soaking up water (the meaning of 'moisten'). The left side of the character resembles a flowing river, while the right side can remind you of something being absorbed, helping you connect 'rú' with the idea of dampness and immersion.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 濡 with similar characters that denote wetness, such as 湿 (shī), which specifically means 'wet' or 'damp.' This character is more formal and may not be used in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 濡湿 (rúshī), meaning 'to be moistened.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 濡 is not an HSK word, it can connect to HSK level 4 vocabulary related to water and states of being. Focus on recognizing its usage in literary texts or advanced discussions about nature and emotions.

Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, water is often associated with emotions and states of being; thus, 濡 can evoke feelings of longing or nostalgia when discussing nature. The concept of immersion is also significant in traditional Chinese practices like Tai Chi, where fluid movements are essential.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 濡 with 湿 (shī) and use it incorrectly to describe general wetness. For example, saying '这个地方很濡' (zhège dìfāng hěn rú) is incorrect; instead, use '这个地方很湿' (zhège dìfāng hěn shī).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 濡

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Etymology of 濡

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

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 (water) represents the meaning and 需 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 濡?

Decomposition of 濡

IDS Structure⿰氵需
Full Character
=
shui3
left
xu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 濡?

Write 濡

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 濡

濡 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

她偎着他,紧紧抱着, ____湿的面颊贴到了他的脸上.

She clung to him, hugging him hard , her wet check to his.

Example Sentences for 濡 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她偎着他,紧紧抱着, 濡湿的面颊贴到了他的脸上.

tā wēi zháo tā, , jǐn jǐn bào, zháo , rú shī de miàn jiá tiē dào le tā de.

She clung to him, hugging him hard , her wet check to his.
2
阿圆已浑身汗濡.

ā yuán yǐ hún shēn hàn rú.

Ahyuan was drenched in sweat.

Cultural Notes for 濡

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese poetry, water is often associated with emotions and states of being; thus, 濡 can evoke feelings of longing or nostalgia when discussing nature. The concept of immersion is also significant in traditional Chinese practices like Tai Chi, where fluid movements are essential.

Word Family of 濡

Words Containing This Character5
相濡以沫mutual help in humble circumstances
耳濡目染to be influenced
dilatory
濡湿to moisten濡濕
濡染to infect
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 相濡以沫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 濡

It is pronounced as 'rú' with a rising tone.