sconcerned, involved; to experience; to wade through a stream
v, 10 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15554, Hard
shè(she4) T4
1to wade
2to be involved
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March 24, 2026
涉shè(she4)
The character 涉 (shè) primarily means 'to wade' through water, but it also conveys the idea of being involved or concerned with something. It is often used in contexts involving experience or participation, emphasizing an active engagement with a subject or situation.
Strokes10Radical氵Frequency#15554DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, water has significant symbolic meanings related to flow and flexibility. The idea of wading through water can metaphorically represent navigating challenges or experiences in life, reflecting resilience and adaptability.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named 'She' who is wading through a stream, feeling the water flow around their legs. The character 涉 has the water radical (氵) on the left, hinting at its connection to water, while the right side suggests the action of entering or crossing.
Meanings of 涉
shè(she4)
1to wade
2to be involved
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 涉
涉Simplified
10Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#15554Frequency Rank
Podcast: 涉
Podcast: 涉
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AI Study Notes for 涉
Quick Contrast
涉 (shè) vs 参与 (cān yù) — use 涉 when emphasizing the act of wading or directly engaging with something, while 参与 focuses more on participation or involvement in a broader context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person named 'She' who is wading through a stream, feeling the water flow around their legs. The character 涉 has the water radical (氵) on the left, hinting at its connection to water, while the right side suggests the action of entering or crossing.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 涉, as it can easily be confused with other similar-sounding words. It's more commonly used in formal or literary contexts, so ensure you're aware of the appropriate register. Common collocations include 涉及 (shèjí), meaning 'to involve' or 'to concern'.
HSK Study Tips
While 涉 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to words like 参与 (cānyù, 'to participate') and 关系 (guānxì, 'relationship') which are essential for understanding involvement in various contexts. Focus on recognizing its usage in literature or formal writing.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, water has significant symbolic meanings related to flow and flexibility. The idea of wading through water can metaphorically represent navigating challenges or experiences in life, reflecting resilience and adaptability.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 涉 with similar-sounding characters, leading to mispronunciation. For example, saying 'shé' instead of 'shè' can change the meaning entirely. Always remember the correct tone when using this character.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 涉
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Grammar Patterns of 涉
涉 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 6 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.
Police investigating a £10 million car insurance fiddle arrested 16 people yesterday.
3
只有在谈判涉及重大问题时叙利亚才会参加。
zhī yǒu zài tán pàn shè jí zhòng dà wèn tí shí xù lì yà cái huì cān jiā。
Syria will attend only if the negotiations deal with issues of substance.
4
很难想象她会喜欢被人过多地干涉。
hěn nán xiǎng xiàng tā huì xǐ huān bèi rén guò duō dì gān shè。
It is hard to imagine her taking kindly to too much interference.
5
让我们看一下涉及的一些数字。
ràng wǒ mén kàn yī xià shè jí de yī xiē shù zì。
Let's take a look at some of the figures involved.
6
议会形容此法令为对共和国内政的干涉。
yì huì xíng róng cǐ fǎ líng wéi duì gòng hé guó nèi zhèng de gān shè。
The parliament described the decree as interference in the republic's internal affairs.
7
他们认为任何涉及捕杀狗的立法都是错误的。
tā mén rèn wéi rèn hé shè jí bǔ shā gǒu de lì fǎ dū shì cuò wù de。
They think that any legislation that involved putting down dogs was wrong.
8
本课程涉及这门学科的每个方面.
běn kè chéng shè jí zhè mén xué kē de měi gè fāng miàn.
This course of study embraces every aspect of the subject.
9
他离题涉及到文学领域.
tā lí tí shè jí dào wén xué lǐng yù.
He divagated into the field of literature.
10
本节只涉及显微镜的一些基本原理.
běn jié zhī shè jí xiǎn wēi jìng de yī xiē jī běn yuán lǐ.
The present section has included only the basic principles of a microscope.
Cultural Notes for 涉
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, water has significant symbolic meanings related to flow and flexibility. The idea of wading through water can metaphorically represent navigating challenges or experiences in life, reflecting resilience and adaptability.
Word Family of 涉
Words Containing This Character20
涉及shèjíto involve
涉嫌shèxiánto be suspected of
干涉gānshèto interfere
涉shèto wade
牵涉qiānshèto involve牽涉
交涉jiāoshèto negotiate (with)
涉足to set foot in
跋涉to trudge
长途跋涉long and difficult trek長途跋涉
涉外concerning foreigners or foreign affairs
涉案(of a perpetrator, victim, weapon, sum of money etc) to be involved in the case
涉险to take risks涉險
涉猎to dip into涉獵
跋山涉水to travel over land and water (idiom)
涉世to see the world
关涉to relate (to)關涉
涉县She county in Handan 邯鄲|邯郸[Hándān], Hebei涉縣
爬山涉水to climb mountains and wade rivers (idiom); fig. to make a long and difficult journey
涉讼to be involved in a lawsuit涉訟
远涉to cross (the wide ocean)遠涉
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 涉及 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 涉
You pronounce it as 'shè', with a falling tone.
It is often used in formal or literary contexts, particularly in discussions about involvement or concerns.
Yes, but it may sound more formal; consider using more common synonyms like 参与 (cānyù) for casual settings.
