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March 24, 2026
放水()fàngshuǐ(fang4shui3)
放水 (fàng shuǐ) primarily means to release or turn on water, often in contexts involving irrigation or plumbing. Additionally, it can colloquially refer to 'throwing a game' in sports, implying a lack of effort to win. Understanding the context is crucial, as the meaning shifts significantly based on usage.
Frequency#16803DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, water management is crucial for agriculture, making the literal meaning of 放水 significant in rural contexts. The sports connotation reflects a growing awareness of integrity in competition, mirroring discussions prevalent in global sports culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a faucet (放) being turned to let water (水) flow out. Visualize a game where players deliberately let the other team score, as if they were 'letting the water out' of their competitive spirit.
Meanings of 放水
fàngshuǐ(fang4shui3)
1to turn on the water
2to let water out
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About 放水
放水Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 放水
Podcast: 放水
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AI Study Notes for 放水
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a faucet (放) being turned to let water (水) flow out. Visualize a game where players deliberately let the other team score, as if they were 'letting the water out' of their competitive spirit.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 放水 with similar phrases that involve 'water' but have different meanings. This term is informal when used in a sports context and may not be appropriate in formal discussions about competition. Common collocations include '放水灌溉' (to turn on water for irrigation) and '放水比赛' (to throw a game).
HSK Study Tips
Although 放水 isn't explicitly listed in HSK levels, it combines common vocabulary like 放 (to release) and 水 (water), which are foundational. Students should focus on understanding the context of phrases and idiomatic expressions at their current HSK level.
Cultural Note
In China, water management is crucial for agriculture, making the literal meaning of 放水 significant in rural contexts. The sports connotation reflects a growing awareness of integrity in competition, mirroring discussions prevalent in global sports culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 放水 with other water-related terms like 水放 (which is incorrect). Remember that 放水 specifically refers to the action of letting water out, unlike static water terms.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 放水
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Cultural Notes for 放水
🏮Cultural insight
In China, water management is crucial for agriculture, making the literal meaning of 放水 significant in rural contexts. The sports connotation reflects a growing awareness of integrity in competition, mirroring discussions prevalent in global sports culture.
Frequently Asked Questions about 放水
In sports, 放水 refers to intentionally losing or not putting in full effort to win a game.
It's best to avoid using 放水 in formal contexts, especially when referring to sports, as it is informal.
Context is key; use it when discussing irrigation or informal sports scenarios.
