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湫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
jiǎomarsh, swamp, small pondg, 12 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
jiǎo(jiao3) T3
  1. 1marsh, swamp, small pond
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March 24, 2026

jiǎo(jiao3)

The character 湫 (jiǎo) refers to a marsh or swamp, often characterized by its wetland environment, which can include small ponds or bodies of water. It is commonly used in geographical contexts to describe landscapes that are rich in water but not suitable for traditional farming or habitation.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, wetlands like marshes are often seen as biodiverse areas crucial for ecosystems, featuring in poetry and art that celebrate nature. The character 湫 captures this essence of natural beauty and environmental significance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small pond (the meaning of 湫) surrounded by marshy land. The character 湫 has a water radical (氵) on the left, hinting at its connection to wet areas. Picture a 'small water corner' where frogs croak and dragonflies flit about, making it memorable.

Meanings of 湫

jiǎo(jiao3)
1marsh, swamp, small pond
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 湫

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 湫

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AI Study Notes for 湫

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a small pond (the meaning of 湫) surrounded by marshy land. The character 湫 has a water radical (氵) on the left, hinting at its connection to wet areas. Picture a 'small water corner' where frogs croak and dragonflies flit about, making it memorable.

Usage Notes

While 湫 can refer to various wetland types, it is more specific than the general term for water (水). Be careful with tone; as a third tone, it can be confused with other characters if pronounced incorrectly. Common collocations include 湫水 (qiáo shuǐ) for 'marshy water' or 湫地 (qiáo dì) for 'wetland area'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 湫 is not included in HSK levels, it connects with vocabulary related to nature and geography, which are common themes in beginner and intermediate levels. Focus on the water radical and related terms like 湖 (hú) for lake and 河 (hé) for river to expand contextual understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, wetlands like marshes are often seen as biodiverse areas crucial for ecosystems, featuring in poetry and art that celebrate nature. The character 湫 captures this essence of natural beauty and environmental significance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 湫 with the character for 'river' (江, jiāng) because of their similar contexts. Ensure you remember that 湫 specifically refers to marshy areas, not flowing water.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 湫

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Etymology of 湫

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 湫?

Decomposition of 湫

IDS Structure⿰氵秋
Full Character
=
shui3
left
Qiu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 湫?

Write 湫

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 湫

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, wetlands like marshes are often seen as biodiverse areas crucial for ecosystems, featuring in poetry and art that celebrate nature. The character 湫 captures this essence of natural beauty and environmental significance.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, marshes are often viewed as wastelands or areas to be drained, while in China, they are valued for their biodiversity and beauty, highlighting a cultural respect for natural habitats.

Word Family of 湫

Words Containing This Character1
jiǎomarsh
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 湫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 湫

湫 is pronounced as 'jiǎo' with a third tone, which has a falling-rising tone.