the sound of running water; to gurgle; confused, disorderly
o, 7 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
汩
gǔ
extinguished
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
gǔ(gu3) T3
1the sound of running water; to gurgle; confused, disorderly
2extinguished
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
汩gǔ(gu3)
The character 汩 (gǔ) primarily refers to the sound of running water, similar to gurgling. It can also imply a sense of confusion or disorder, often used metaphorically to describe chaotic situations. This dual meaning makes it applicable in both literal and figurative contexts.
Strokes7Radical氵Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese poetry, the sound of water is often used to evoke emotions, symbolizing tranquility or chaos depending on the context. This character can be found in classical literature, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a gurgling stream, where the water flows disorderly, making a sound that resembles 'gǔ'. The character's radical 水 (water) reinforces the connection to water sounds, while the remaining component suggests chaos. Visualize a chaotic scene by a river where the water is both soothing and tumultuous.
Meanings of 汩
gǔ(gu3)
1the sound of running water; to gurgle; confused, disorderly
2extinguished
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 汩
汩Simplified
7Strokes
氵Radical
拟声词onomatopoeia (onom.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 汩
Podcast: 汩
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 汩
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a gurgling stream, where the water flows disorderly, making a sound that resembles 'gǔ'. The character's radical 水 (water) reinforces the connection to water sounds, while the remaining component suggests chaos. Visualize a chaotic scene by a river where the water is both soothing and tumultuous.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 汩 with other similar-sounding characters. It’s more informal and often used in literary contexts or poetic descriptions. Common collocations include phrases related to water sounds or chaotic situations.
HSK Study Tips
While 汩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be useful for advanced learners to understand onomatopoeic expressions in Chinese. Students should focus on the sound associations and figurative meanings to enhance their comprehension of literary texts.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese poetry, the sound of water is often used to evoke emotions, symbolizing tranquility or chaos depending on the context. This character can be found in classical literature, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 汩 with similar characters like 沓 (tà) or 溯 (sù), which have different meanings. Remember that 汩 specifically relates to the sound of water or confusion, while the others pertain to different contexts, such as 'to stack' or 'to trace back'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 汩
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 汩 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 汩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 汩
汩 functions as an onomatopoeic word — it imitates a sound. It often functions as an adverbial or stand-alone exclamation rather than a true verb or noun. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
大地开裂，____汩冒出炽热的熔岩。
The ground had opened to disgorge a boiling stream of molten lava.
Example Sentences for 汩 (3)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
大地开裂，汩汩冒出炽热的熔岩。
dà dì kāi liè， ， gǔ gǔ mào chū chì rè de róng。
The ground had opened to disgorge a boiling stream of molten lava.
2
血从她鼻子里汩汩流出来。
xiě cóng tā bí zǐ lǐ gǔ gǔ liú chū lái。
Blood was spurting from her nose.
3
人几乎能听到植物的根在吸收大地养料, 茎干在长高, 地面底下的小河在汩汩地流着.
rén jī hū néng tīng dào zhí wù de gēn zài xī shōu dà dì yǎng liào, , jīng gān zài cháng, gāo , dì miàn dǐ xià de xiǎo hé zài gǔ gǔ dì.
One could almost hear the roots sucking the earth, the stalks growing, the underground streams trickling.
Cultural Notes for 汩
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese poetry, the sound of water is often used to evoke emotions, symbolizing tranquility or chaos depending on the context. This character can be found in classical literature, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 汩
Words Containing This Character1
汩gǔconfused
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 汩 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 汩
汩 is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it is more often found in literary or poetic contexts.
You might say, '小河里水汩汩流淌,' meaning 'The small river flows gurglingly.'
No, 汩 is less common and is generally encountered at advanced levels of study.
