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灌输 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
灌输guànshūto imbue withHSK 7, unknown, 33 strokes, rank #9922, Very Hard
灌输guànshūto inculcateHSK 7, unknown, 33 strokes, rank #9922, Very Hard
灌输guànshūto instill intoHSK 7, unknown, 33 strokes, rank #9922, Very Hard
灌输guànshūto teachHSK 7, unknown, 33 strokes, rank #9922, Very Hard
灌输guànshūto impartHSK 7, unknown, 33 strokes, rank #9922, Very Hard
灌输guànshūto channel water to another placeHSK 7, unknown, 33 strokes, rank #9922, Very Hard
guànshū(guan4shu1)guan shu T4
  1. 1to imbue with
  2. 2to inculcate
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March 24, 2026

灌输(灌輸)guànshū(guan4shu1)

灌输 (guànshū) refers to the act of instilling ideas, values, or knowledge into someone's mind, often through repetition or teaching. It is commonly used in educational contexts, where a teacher imparts knowledge to students, but can also imply a more forceful or persuasive approach to influencing someone's beliefs or attitudes.

Strokes33Frequency#9922DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, education is highly valued and often involves a strong emphasis on instilling moral values and knowledge, which is reflected in the concept of 灌输. This reflects the traditional view of teachers as moral guides.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant watering can (灌) pouring knowledge (输) into the minds of students. Just as water nourishes plants, the teacher's role is to nourish the minds of learners with ideas and values.

Meanings of 灌输

guànshū(guan4shu1)
1to imbue with
2to inculcate
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 灌输

灌输Simplified
灌輸Traditional
33Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 灌输

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AI study notes for 灌输

Quick Contrast

灌输 (instill) vs 传授 (transmit) — use 灌输 when emphasizing a forceful or persuasive method of instilling ideas, while 传授 focuses on the act of teaching or imparting knowledge in a more neutral manner.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; 灌输 can carry a negative connotation if it suggests brainwashing or overly aggressive teaching methods. In formal contexts, it is often paired with words like '知识' (knowledge) or '思想' (thought). Avoid using it in casual settings unless discussing education explicitly.

HSK Study Tips

While 灌输 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it relates to the broader themes of education found in HSK levels 3-5. Focus on the context of teaching and learning, and connect it with related terms like 教授 (to teach) and 教育 (education).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 灌输 with 传授 (to impart, teach), thinking they are interchangeable. However, 灌输 carries a stronger implication of indoctrination. Correct usage would be: '老师灌输学生知识' (The teacher instills knowledge in the students) instead of '老师传授学生知识'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 灌输

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Component characters

灌guànto irrigate
HSK 720 strokes氵
View full entry
输shūto lose
HSK 413 strokes车
View full entry

How to say to imbue with in Chinese

“to imbue with” in Chinese is灌输guànshū

灌输 (guànshū) refers to the act of instilling ideas, values, or knowledge into someone's mind, often through repetition or teaching. It is commonly used in educational contexts, where a teacher imparts knowledge to students, but can also imply a more forceful or persuasive approach to influencing someone's beliefs or attitudes.

When to use 灌输

Be cautious with the tone; 灌输 can carry a negative connotation if it suggests brainwashing or overly aggressive teaching methods. In formal contexts, it is often paired with words like '知识' (knowledge) or '思想' (thought). Avoid using it in casual settings unless discussing education explicitly.

灌输 or something close to it

灌输 (instill) vs 传授 (transmit) — use 灌输 when emphasizing a forceful or persuasive method of instilling ideas, while 传授 focuses on the act of teaching or imparting knowledge in a more neutral manner.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 灌输 with 传授 (to impart, teach), thinking they are interchangeable. However, 灌输 carries a stronger implication of indoctrination. Correct usage would be: '老师灌输学生知识' (The teacher instills knowledge in the students) instead of '老师传授学生知识'.

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灌
输

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Frequently asked questions about 灌输

While both mean 'to teach', 灌输 implies a more forceful instilling of ideas, whereas 教授 suggests a more interactive and less coercive teaching method.

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