Meanings of 衝
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 衝
Podcast: 衝
Podcast: 衝
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 衝
冲 (chōng) vs 冲击 (chōngjī) — choose 冲 (chōng) for washing or rushing contexts, while 冲击 (chōngjī) refers specifically to impact or collision.
Imagine a rushing river (the radical 衤, meaning 'to wash') that dashes forward (the character's meaning). Picture someone washing clothes while dashing to catch a bus, creating a vivid image of both meanings—washing and rushing.
Be cautious of the tone; 使用 (shǐyòng) means 'to use,' while 衝 (chōng) can be confused with it due to phonetic similarities. It's often used in informal contexts, so avoid it in very formal writing. Common collocations include 衝洗 (chōngxǐ - to rinse) and 衝突 (chōngtū - to clash).
While 衝 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, students should familiarize themselves with its usage in daily conversations. It connects with other verbs relating to movement or actions, such as 跑 (pǎo - to run) and 行 (xíng - to walk), which are important at this proficiency level.
In Chinese culture, water is often associated with cleansing and renewal, making 衝 relevant in contexts like festivals or rituals that involve washing away the old to welcome the new, such as during the Lunar New Year.
Learners often mispronounce 衝 due to its tonal nature, mistakenly saying it with a second tone (chóng). Additionally, they might confuse it with 冲 (also pronounced chōng) which has a different meaning in some contexts, like 'to charge' or 'to rush.'
Pronunciation of 衝
Drill the tone of 衝 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 衝
Phonosemantic compound. 冫 represents the meaning and 中 represents the sound. Simplified form of 衝.
go
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 衝?
Decomposition of 衝
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 衝?
Write 衝
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 衝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Cultural Notes for 衝
In Chinese culture, water is often associated with cleansing and renewal, making 衝 relevant in contexts like festivals or rituals that involve washing away the old to welcome the new, such as during the Lunar New Year.
Word Family of 衝
Compound Meaning
What does 冲 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 衝
You can use 衝 to describe actions involving washing, like doing laundry, or to express rapid movement, like running or rushing.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 衝?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.