Meanings of 燙
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About 燙
Podcast: 燙
Podcast: 燙
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AI Study Notes for 燙
烫 (tàng) - use 燙 for scalding with hot liquid, while 烫 is more commonly used for ironing or hot water treatments.
Be cautious with the tones; 燙 is pronounced with a falling tone (tàng), which can be confused with other words if mispronounced. Common collocations include 燙水 (tàng shuǐ, scalding water) and 燙衣服 (tàng yīfu, ironing clothes). This word is generally used in informal contexts.
Although not part of the official HSK vocabulary, 燙 is still relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above, especially for those interested in daily activities like cooking and personal care. Focus on its usage in cooking terms and common phrases to enhance your vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 燙 with similar-sounding characters like 烫, leading to incorrect usage in contexts. For instance, saying '我今天要燙衣服' (Wǒ jīntiān yào tàng yīfu) is correct, but confusing it with another character can alter the meaning.
Pronunciation of 燙
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Etymology of 燙
Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 汤 represents the sound. Simplified form of 燙.
fire
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 燙
Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 汤 represents the sound. Simplified form of 燙.
- 1The meaning half火 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half湯 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayfire
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 燙
Identify the Components
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How to say to scald; to iron clothes or hair in Chinese
“to scald; to iron clothes or hair” in Chinese is燙
The character 燙 (tàng) primarily means 'to scald' or 'to burn with hot liquid'. It can also refer to the action of ironing clothes or hair, highlighting its association with heat and the process of smoothing out wrinkles. In everyday contexts, it is often used in cooking or when discussing personal grooming.
When to use 燙
Be cautious with the tones; 燙 is pronounced with a falling tone (tàng), which can be confused with other words if mispronounced. Common collocations include 燙水 (tàng shuǐ, scalding water) and 燙衣服 (tàng yīfu, ironing clothes). This word is generally used in informal contexts.
燙 or something close to it
烫 (tàng) - use 燙 for scalding with hot liquid, while 烫 is more commonly used for ironing or hot water treatments.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 燙 with similar-sounding characters like 烫, leading to incorrect usage in contexts. For instance, saying '我今天要燙衣服' (Wǒ jīntiān yào tàng yīfu) is correct, but confusing it with another character can alter the meaning.
Write 燙
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Practice writing 燙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 燙
Compound Meaning
What does 烫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 燙
You can say '我不小心燙到手了' (Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn tàng dào shǒu le), meaning 'I accidentally burnt my hand.'
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