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March 24, 2026
水shuǐ(shui3)
水 (shuǐ) means 'water' and is often used to refer to any liquid. It is a fundamental concept in Chinese culture, symbolizing life and nourishment, and is commonly used in various contexts, such as beverages, rivers, and even abstract ideas like fluidity or change.
Strokes4Radical水Frequency#443DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
Water is central to Chinese philosophy and traditions, often associated with the concept of 'wu xing' (五行), or the Five Elements, where it represents adaptability and flow. Festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival also celebrate water-related themes.
Memory tip
Imagine a flowing river (水) that quenches your thirst. The character resembles flowing water, with the top part resembling waves. To remember 'shuǐ', think of 'splashing' sounds as water hits the rocks.
Meanings of 水
shuǐ(shui3)
1water
2river
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About 水
水Simplified
4Strokes
水Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#443Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 水
Podcast: 水
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AI study notes for 水
Quick Contrast
液 (yè, liquid) — use 水 when referring specifically to water or its cultural significance, while 液 is more general for any liquid.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 水 with other liquids like juice (果汁, guǒzhī) or tea (茶, chá). While it's a neutral term, using it in formal contexts can sometimes sound too casual; for instance, saying '请给我水' (Please give me water) is fine, but in more formal settings, you might specify the type of beverage.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 水 connects to other basic vocabulary related to food and drink, such as 饭 (fàn, rice/meal) and 茶 (chá, tea). Focus on different contexts where you might encounter 水, such as in phrases and common expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 水 with other similar-sounding words, like 知 (zhī, to know) or 事 (shì, matter). For example, saying '我喝知' (wǒ hē zhī, I drink to know) is incorrect; it should be '我喝水' (wǒ hē shuǐ, I drink water).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 水
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Knowing 水 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
水 (shuǐ) means 'water' and is often used to refer to any liquid. It is a fundamental concept in Chinese culture, symbolizing life and nourishment, and is commonly used in various contexts, such as beverages, rivers, and even abstract ideas like fluidity or change.
When to use 水
Be careful not to confuse 水 with other liquids like juice (果汁, guǒzhī) or tea (茶, chá). While it's a neutral term, using it in formal contexts can sometimes sound too casual; for instance, saying '请给我水' (Please give me water) is fine, but in more formal settings, you might specify the type of beverage.
水 or something close to it
液 (yè, liquid) — use 水 when referring specifically to water or its cultural significance, while 液 is more general for any liquid.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 水 with other similar-sounding words, like 知 (zhī, to know) or 事 (shì, matter). For example, saying '我喝知' (wǒ hē zhī, I drink to know) is incorrect; it should be '我喝水' (wǒ hē shuǐ, I drink water).
Write 水
水
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Practice writing 水 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 水
水 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 8 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.
