to pour, to spill; to scatter, to shed; to wipe away
x, 22 strokes, radical 氵, Very Hard
sǎ(sa3) T3
1to pour, to spill; to scatter, to shed; to wipe away
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March 24, 2026
灑sǎ(sa3)
The character 灑 (sǎ) primarily means 'to pour' or 'to spill.' It is often used in contexts like watering plants or pouring liquid. Additionally, it can imply scattering or shedding, such as sprinkling salt or scattering seeds.
Strokes22Radical氵Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese gardening, the act of watering plants is often done with great care, and the character 灑 connects to the agricultural practices that emphasize nurturing life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person with a big watering can (the radical 灬 represents fire and can remind you of the heat of the sun while watering). As they pour water over their plants, the water spills everywhere, making a mess (the action of pouring and spilling). The 'sǎ' sounds like 'splash' which also relates to spilling.
Meanings of 灑
sǎ(sa3)
1to pour, to spill; to scatter, to shed; to wipe away
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 灑
灑Simplified
22Strokes
氵Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 灑
Podcast: 灑
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AI Study Notes for 灑
Quick Contrast
灑 (sǎ, to pour/spill) vs 撒 (sā, to scatter) — use 灑 when referring to pouring liquids, while 撒 is preferred for scattering objects.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person with a big watering can (the radical 灬 represents fire and can remind you of the heat of the sun while watering). As they pour water over their plants, the water spills everywhere, making a mess (the action of pouring and spilling). The 'sǎ' sounds like 'splash' which also relates to spilling.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 灑 with similar characters like 洒 (sǎ), which also means 'to sprinkle' but is more commonly used in informal contexts. This character is suitable for both formal and informal registers, but context is key, especially when discussing actions versus descriptions.
HSK Study Tips
While 灑 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it relates to other HSK Level 3 and 4 words that involve actions of pouring or scattering, such as 倒 (dào, to pour). Focus on its usage in different contexts to strengthen understanding.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese gardening, the act of watering plants is often done with great care, and the character 灑 connects to the agricultural practices that emphasize nurturing life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 灑 with 洒 or even with 倒 (dào). For example, saying '我灑水了' (I poured water) is incorrect if they meant to simply sprinkle. The correct phrase would be '我洒水了'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 灑
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Cultural Notes for 灑
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese gardening, the act of watering plants is often done with great care, and the character 灑 connects to the agricultural practices that emphasize nurturing life.
Word Family of 灑
Words Containing This Character12
洒sǎto spray灑
潇洒xiāosǎfree and easy瀟灑
洒脱natural灑脫
喷洒to spray噴灑
挥洒to sprinkle揮灑
洒满to sprinkle over sth灑滿
抛洒to drip拋灑
洒水车sprinkler truck灑水車
洒水to sprinkle灑水
洋洋洒洒voluminous洋洋灑灑
飘洒suave飄灑
洒水机sprinkler灑水機
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 洒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 灑
Yes, it can be used when discussing actions such as watering plants or spilling liquids.
灑 is often used more formally for pouring, while 洒 is used informally for actions like sprinkling.
Yes, it can also refer to scattering items like seeds or salt.
