Meanings of 沉
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About 沉
Podcast: 沉
Podcast: 沉
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AI Study Notes for 沉
沉 (chén) vs 低 (dī) — use 沉 for sinking or submerging, while 低 refers to something being low in position or height.
Be cautious with the tone; 沉 is pronounced with a second tone (chén) when used in certain phrases or compounds, such as '沉重' (chénzhòng - heavy). It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but may sound more literary when discussing abstract concepts.
Although 沉 is not in the HSK lists, it is relevant for learners at HSK 4 and above. It connects to other words related to depth or weight, such as 深 (shēn - deep) and 重 (zhòng - heavy). Focus on recognizing its use in idiomatic expressions.
Learners often confuse 沉 with 浸 (jìn), which means 'to soak' or 'to immerse.' For example, saying '我想沉这个衣服' (wǒ xiǎng chén zhège yīfú) is incorrect; it should be '我想浸这个衣服' (wǒ xiǎng jìn zhège yīfú).
Pronunciation of 沉
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Etymology of 沉
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 沉 represents the sound. Variant of 沈.
An excessive 冗 amount of water 氵
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 沉
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 沉 represents the sound. Variant of 沈.
- 1The giveawayAn excessive 冗 amount of water 氵
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 沉? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 沉?
Decomposition of 沉
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 沉?
How to say to submerge in Chinese
“to submerge” in Chinese is沉
The character 沉 (chēn) primarily means 'to sink' or 'to submerge.' It conveys the idea of something being lowered into a substance, often water, or being kept down emotionally or intellectually. In broader contexts, it can also describe something profound or heavy, such as thoughts or feelings.
When to use 沉
Be cautious with the tone; 沉 is pronounced with a second tone (chén) when used in certain phrases or compounds, such as '沉重' (chénzhòng - heavy). It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but may sound more literary when discussing abstract concepts.
沉 or something close to it
沉 (chén) vs 低 (dī) — use 沉 for sinking or submerging, while 低 refers to something being low in position or height.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 沉 with 浸 (jìn), which means 'to soak' or 'to immerse.' For example, saying '我想沉这个衣服' (wǒ xiǎng chén zhège yīfú) is incorrect; it should be '我想浸这个衣服' (wǒ xiǎng jìn zhège yīfú).
Write 沉
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Practice writing 沉 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 沉
沉 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 9 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.
Complete the Sentence
她的情绪很不稳定，时而积极，时而消____。
Her emotions are very unstable — sometimes positive, sometimes depressed.
Common Confusions with 沉
Different meaning and usage, but pronounced similarly.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to submerge"?
Example Sentences for 沉 (10)
Reorder the Sentence
I held my breath and sank under the water.
Word Family of 沉
Compound Meaning
What does 沉默 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 沉
沉 (chén) generally refers to the action of sinking or submerging, while 下沉 (xià chén) specifically means 'to sink downwards.' 下沉 emphasizes the downward movement, whereas 沉 can be used more broadly in various contexts.
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