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洫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
moat, ditchg, 9 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
to ditchunknown, 9 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
a moatunknown, 9 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
(xu4) T4
  1. 1moat, ditch
  2. 2to ditch
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March 24, 2026
(xu4)

The character 洫 (xù) refers to a moat or ditch, often used in contexts related to irrigation or water management. It can also imply the action of ditching or creating a trench. This term is less commonly used in modern conversation but can be found in literary or historical texts.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, moats were crucial for defense and irrigation, reflecting the importance of water management in agricultural practices. This character can be linked to traditional Chinese architecture, where moats served both practical and aesthetic purposes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large moat surrounding a castle, with the water flowing through a narrow ditch. The character 洫 resembles a flowing river (the water radical 氵) combined with a structure (the 'ditch' component), helping you remember that it relates to water and ditches.

Meanings of 洫

(xu4)
1moat, ditch
2to ditch
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 洫

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 洫

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AI Study Notes for 洫

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a large moat surrounding a castle, with the water flowing through a narrow ditch. The character 洫 resembles a flowing river (the water radical 氵) combined with a structure (the 'ditch' component), helping you remember that it relates to water and ditches.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 洫 with similar-sounding characters like 续 (xù), which means to continue. This character is typically used in formal contexts related to historical texts or discussions on agriculture and engineering. It often collocates with terms related to water management.

HSK Study Tips

Although 洫 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding this character can enrich your knowledge of water-related terms. Focus on the radicals and their meanings, as they frequently appear in other characters at this level.

Cultural Note

In ancient China, moats were crucial for defense and irrigation, reflecting the importance of water management in agricultural practices. This character can be linked to traditional Chinese architecture, where moats served both practical and aesthetic purposes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 洫 (xù) with similar characters. For example, using 洫 instead of 续 (xù) can change the meaning entirely. Always double-check the context to ensure you are using the correct character.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 洫

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Etymology of 洫

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

water

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 洫?

Decomposition of 洫

IDS Structure⿰氵血
Full Character
=
shui3
left
xue4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 洫?

Write 洫

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 洫

🏮Cultural insight

In ancient China, moats were crucial for defense and irrigation, reflecting the importance of water management in agricultural practices. This character can be linked to traditional Chinese architecture, where moats served both practical and aesthetic purposes.

Word Family of 洫

Words Containing This Character1
to ditch
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 洫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 洫

It is pronounced as 'xù', with a falling tone.