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March 24, 2026
淹yān(yan1)
The character 淹 (yān) primarily means to flood or to submerge, referring to the act of water covering an area. It can also imply drowning or immersing something, often in a liquid context. Additionally, it can describe the irritation caused by liquids on the skin and the notion of delaying or prolonging an action.
Strokes11Radical氵Frequency#9929DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, water management is of significant importance due to historical flooding events such as the Yellow River floods. The character 淹 reflects this deep connection with water and its potential dangers.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large, heavy rain cloud (雨) pouring down water (水) that floods a town. The sound 'yān' can be remembered by thinking of the 'yawn' of people who are submerged in water, helplessly waiting for help.
Meanings of 淹
yān(yan1)
1to flood
2to submerge
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 淹
淹Simplified
11Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9929Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 淹
Podcast: 淹
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AI Study Notes for 淹
Quick Contrast
淹 (yān) vs 浸 (jìn) — use 淹 for flooding or submerging in a broader context, while 浸 focuses on soaking or immersing something in liquid.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large, heavy rain cloud (雨) pouring down water (水) that floods a town. The sound 'yān' can be remembered by thinking of the 'yawn' of people who are submerged in water, helplessly waiting for help.
Usage Notes
淹 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions related to water and its effects. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; always check the context to ensure correct usage. Typical collocations include 淹没 (yānbò, to submerge) and 淹水 (yānshuǐ, to flood).
HSK Study Tips
While 淹 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with HSK Level 3 words related to water (like 水) and safety (like 安全). Students should focus on its usage in context and practice sentences that involve flooding or immersion.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, water management is of significant importance due to historical flooding events such as the Yellow River floods. The character 淹 reflects this deep connection with water and its potential dangers.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 淹 with 演 (yǎn, to perform) due to similar pronunciation. An incorrect sentence might be '我昨天淹了一场演出' (I drowned a performance yesterday), which should be corrected to '我昨天参加了一场演出' (I attended a performance yesterday).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 淹
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Grammar Patterns of 淹
淹 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.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
上班时，他____没在枯燥乏味的会海中。
At work, he was chained to a system of boring meetings.
Example Sentences for 淹 (10)
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1
上班时，他淹没在枯燥乏味的会海中。
shàng bān shí， ， tā yān méi zài kū zào fá wèi de huì hǎi。
At work, he was chained to a system of boring meetings.
2
他们用力把她的头按到冰冷的水中，想淹死她。
tā mén yòng lì bǎ tā de tóu àn dào bīng lěng de shuǐ zhōng， ， xiǎng yān sǐ。
They were forcing her head under the icy waters, drowning her.
3
海滩上有些地方在涨潮时完全淹没在水中。
hǎi tān shàng yǒu xiē dì fāng zài zhǎng cháo shí wán quán yān méi zài shuǐ zhōng。
Some stretches of beach are completely underwater at high tide.
4
洞口大半都淹没在湖里。
dòng kǒu dà bàn dū yān méi zài hú lǐ。
Most of the mouth of the cave was submerged in the lake.
He tried to swim, but a strong current kept him under and he drowned.
Cultural Notes for 淹
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, water management is of significant importance due to historical flooding events such as the Yellow River floods. The character 淹 reflects this deep connection with water and its potential dangers.
Word Family of 淹
Words Containing This Character5
淹没yānmòto submerge淹沒
淹死to drown
淹yānto flood
范仲淹also writer and author of On Yueyang Tower 岳陽樓記|岳阳楼记
淹水to be flooded
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 淹没 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 淹
While it primarily relates to water, it can also describe the act of immersing something in another substance.
Focus on the context; 淹 relates specifically to flooding and immersion, while others may refer to different actions.
Yes, it can describe situations where someone feels overwhelmed, similar to being submerged.
