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自来水 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
自来水zìláishuǐrunning waterHSK 6, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #13494, Hard
自来水zìláishuǐtap waterHSK 6, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #13494, Hard
zìláishuǐ(zi4lai2shui3)zi lai shui T4
  1. 1running water
  2. 2tap water
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March 24, 2026

自来水(自來水)zìláishuǐ(zi4lai2shui3)

自来水 (zì lái shuǐ) refers to tap water or running water that is supplied to homes and buildings through a plumbing system. It is commonly used in everyday conversation when discussing water supply, drinking water, or plumbing issues.

Strokes17Frequency#13494DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In urban China, access to 自来水 is a part of modern living, and many households rely on it for daily needs. However, the quality of tap water can vary, leading to discussions about water safety and filtration.

Memory Tip

Think of 自 (zì) as 'self' and 来 (lái) as 'come'; together, it suggests 'water that comes by itself'. Visualize a tap that automatically fills your glass, representing the convenience of running water.

Meanings of 自来水

zìláishuǐ(zi4lai2shui3)
1running water
2tap water
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About 自来水

自来水Simplified
自來水Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

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Podcast: 自来水

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AI Study Notes for 自来水

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 自来水 with bottled water (矿泉水, kuàngquán shuǐ), leading to misunderstandings in conversations about drinking preferences. This term is informal and widely used in daily life, so it's important to use it in the right context.

HSK Study Tips

While 自来水 is not explicitly listed in HSK word lists, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above when discussing daily life topics. Focus on the individual characters and their meanings to better understand compound words.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 自来水 when referring to bottled water. For example, saying '我想要自来水' (wǒ xiǎng yào zìlái shuǐ) in a context where they want bottled water is incorrect; the correct term would be 矿泉水.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 自来水

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Component Characters

自zìfrom
HSK 46 strokes自
View full entry
来láito come
HSK 17 strokes木
View full entry
水shuǐwater
HSK 14 strokes水
View full entry

How to say running water in Chinese

“running water” in Chinese is自来水zìláishuǐ

自来水 (zì lái shuǐ) refers to tap water or running water that is supplied to homes and buildings through a plumbing system. It is commonly used in everyday conversation when discussing water supply, drinking water, or plumbing issues.

When to use 自来水

Learners often confuse 自来水 with bottled water (矿泉水, kuàngquán shuǐ), leading to misunderstandings in conversations about drinking preferences. This term is informal and widely used in daily life, so it's important to use it in the right context.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 自来水 when referring to bottled water. For example, saying '我想要自来水' (wǒ xiǎng yào zìlái shuǐ) in a context where they want bottled water is incorrect; the correct term would be 矿泉水.

Write 自来水

自
来
水

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Frequently Asked Questions about 自来水

In many cities, 自来水 is treated and generally safe to drink, but it's always best to check local guidelines.

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