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馏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
馏
liú
distill, distillation
n, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liú
to distill
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liú
to steam
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liú
to break a liquid substance up into components by boiling
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liú
to cook in a steamer
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liú
to reheat cold food by steaming it
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liù
distill, distillation
n, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liù
to distill
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liù
to steam
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liù
to break a liquid substance up into components by boiling
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liù
to cook in a steamer
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
馏
liù
to reheat cold food by steaming it
unknown, 13 strokes, radical 饣, rank #51867, Very Hard
liú(liu2)liu
primary
T2
1distill, distillation
2to distill
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
馏(餾)liú(liu2)
The character 馏 (liú) refers to the process of distillation, where a liquid is heated to separate its components, usually for purification or concentration. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, particularly when discussing methods of cooking food using steam or distillation techniques in chemistry.
Strokes13Radical饣Frequency#51867DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese cooking, steaming is a highly regarded method that preserves the natural flavors and nutrients of food, reflecting the culture's emphasis on health and balance in meals. Distillation also plays a role in producing traditional liquors like baijiu.
Memory tip
Imagine a steaming pot where the heat rises and separates flavors like a magical distillation process. The character 馏 features the radical 气 (air, steam) and the phonetic component 留 (liú), which sounds like 'liquid', linking it to steaming and cooking.
Meanings of 馏
liú(liu2)
primary
1distill, distillation
2to distill
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 馏
馏Simplified
餾Traditional
13Strokes
饣Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 馏
Podcast: 馏
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AI study notes for 馏
Usage Notes
This term is often used in more formal contexts, such as cooking classes or scientific discussions. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with 煮 (zhǔ), which means 'boil'; remember that 馏 specifically implies using steam. Be mindful of pronunciation, as misplacing tones can lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
Though 馏 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to Level 3 and 4 words related to cooking and chemistry. Students should focus on the cooking techniques vocabulary and how distillation contrasts with other cooking methods like frying (炸, zhà) or boiling (煮, zhǔ).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 馏 with similar cooking terms. For instance, using '我煮了这个' (I boiled this) when they should say '我馏了这个' (I steamed this) can lead to misunderstandings about the cooking method used.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 馏
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The character 馏 (liú) refers to the process of distillation, where a liquid is heated to separate its components, usually for purification or concentration. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, particularly when discussing methods of cooking food using steam or distillation techniques in chemistry.
When to use 馏
This term is often used in more formal contexts, such as cooking classes or scientific discussions. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with 煮 (zhǔ), which means 'boil'; remember that 馏 specifically implies using steam. Be mindful of pronunciation, as misplacing tones can lead to confusion.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 馏 with similar cooking terms. For instance, using '我煮了这个' (I boiled this) when they should say '我馏了这个' (I steamed this) can lead to misunderstandings about the cooking method used.
Write 馏
馏
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Practice writing 馏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 馏
馏 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
原先苹果酒里的任何杂质在蒸____后都会凸现出来。
Any faults in the original cider stood out sharply after distillation.
Example sentences for 馏 (5)
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1
原先苹果酒里的任何杂质在蒸馏后都会凸现出来。
yuánxiān píngguǒ jiǔ lǐ de rènhé zá zhì zài zhēng liú hòu dūhuì tū xiàn chūlái。
Any faults in the original cider stood out sharply after distillation.
2
两者通过普通的分馏彼此分离.
liǎng zhě tōngguò pǔtōng de fēn liú bǐcǐ fēnlí.
It can be separated from each other by ordinary fractional distillation.
3
较重的沸腾着的馏分以液态停留在多孔的壁上.
jiào zhòng de fèiténg zhe de liú fēn yǐ yè tài tíngliú zài duō Kǒng de bì shàng.
The heavier boiling fractions remain, in liquid form on the manifold wall.
4
这些早期的观察曾为化学馏分的结果所增补.
zhèxiē zǎoqī de guānchá céng wèi huàxué liú fēn de jiéguǒ suǒ zēng bǔ.
These early observations have been supplemented with results from chemical fractionation.
Light petroleum distillate , generally known as naphtha, was the logical choice.
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Cultural Notes for 馏
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While steaming is popular in Chinese cuisine, Western methods often favor baking or frying, showing a difference in cooking techniques and preferences.
Word Family of 馏
Words containing this character7
蒸馏to distill蒸餾
蒸馏水distilled water蒸餾水
馏liúto steam餾
馏分fraction (of a distillate)餾分
蒸馏器still (i.e. distilling apparatus)蒸餾器
分馏fractional distillation分餾
干馏to carbonize乾餾
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 馏
What does 蒸馏 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 馏
In cooking, 馏 specifically refers to the method of steaming food, which retains moisture and flavor, unlike boiling.
馏 emphasizes steaming and distillation, while 煮 refers to boiling, which involves submerging food in water.
Yes, 馏 is also used in chemistry to describe the process of distillation for separating liquid mixtures.
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