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March 24, 2026
滑huá(Hua2)
The character 滑 (huá) primarily means 'to slip' or 'to slide', often used to describe smooth or slippery surfaces. It can also refer to someone who is cunning or slick in behavior. In everyday contexts, it may refer to physical actions, such as slipping on ice, or metaphorical ones, such as a slippery argument.
Strokes12Radical氵Frequency#2062DifficultyHard
Cultural note
滑 (huá) is often associated with traditional Chinese ice activities, such as ice skating, which have cultural significance in regions with cold winters. The concept of being 'slippery' can also relate to historical figures known for their cunning strategies in Chinese literature.
Memory tip
Imagine a smooth, shiny ice slide (滑) where children are gleefully sliding down. The character has the water radical 氵 on the left, suggesting fluidity, and the right part, 'huá', sounds like 'slide'. Picture the children slipping effortlessly down the slide, embodying the character’s meaning.
Meanings of 滑
huá(Hua2)
1to slip
2to slide
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 滑
滑Simplified
12Strokes
氵Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2062Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 滑
Podcast: 滑
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AI study notes for 滑
Quick Contrast
滑 (huá) vs 光滑 (guānghuá) — use 滑 for actions of slipping or sliding, while 光滑 describes a smooth surface without implying movement.
Usage Notes
滑 (huá) is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but care should be taken to use it accurately when describing people, as calling someone 'slippery' can imply dishonesty. Common collocations include 滑冰 (huábīng - ice skating) and 滑梯 (huátī - slide). Pay attention to tone; 'huá' should be pronounced in the second tone to avoid confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 滑 connects to other vocabulary related to movement and actions. Students should practice forming sentences that involve sliding or slipping, in both literal and figurative senses, to deepen understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 滑 (huá) with similar-sounding words like 花 (huā - flower) or 话 (huà - speech). For instance, saying 滑冰 (huá bīng) with the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 滑
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 滑 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.
滑 = 氵 + 骨. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 滑
IDS Structure⿰氵骨
滑Full character
=
氵shui3
left
骨gu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 滑?
How to say to slip in Chinese
“to slip” in Chinese is滑huá
The character 滑 (huá) primarily means 'to slip' or 'to slide', often used to describe smooth or slippery surfaces. It can also refer to someone who is cunning or slick in behavior. In everyday contexts, it may refer to physical actions, such as slipping on ice, or metaphorical ones, such as a slippery argument.
When to use 滑
滑 (huá) is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but care should be taken to use it accurately when describing people, as calling someone 'slippery' can imply dishonesty. Common collocations include 滑冰 (huábīng - ice skating) and 滑梯 (huátī - slide). Pay attention to tone; 'huá' should be pronounced in the second tone to avoid confusion with other words.
滑 or something close to it
滑 (huá) vs 光滑 (guānghuá) — use 滑 for actions of slipping or sliding, while 光滑 describes a smooth surface without implying movement.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 滑 (huá) with similar-sounding words like 花 (huā - flower) or 话 (huà - speech). For instance, saying 滑冰 (huá bīng) with the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 滑
滑
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Grammar patterns of 滑
滑 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 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
The Hua family is a well-known philanthropic family in the area, helping impoverished families for many years.
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Cultural Notes for 滑
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, being 'slippery' often has a negative connotation, strongly associated with deceit, while in some contexts in China, it can also imply cleverness or resourcefulness.
Word Family of 滑
Words containing this character20
滑huáto slip
下滑xiàhuásliding
滑雪huáxuěto ski
滑稽huájīcomical
光滑guānghuáglossy
滑冰huábīngto skate
滑板huábǎnskateboard
滑坡huápōrockslide
润滑油rùnhuáyóulubricating oil潤滑油
滑动huádòngto slide滑動
滑行huáxíngto slide
平滑pínghuáflat and smooth
圆滑yuánhuáslick and sly圓滑
滑头huátóucrafty滑頭
润滑rùnhuásmooth潤滑
平滑肌pínghuájīsmooth muscle (anatomy)
润滑剂rùnhuájìlubricant潤滑劑
滑翔huáxiángto glide
滑铁卢huátiělúWaterloo (Belgium)滑鐵盧
防滑fánghuáantiskid
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 滑
What does 下滑 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 滑
Yes, 滑 (Huá) can also be a surname in Chinese. Like many Chinese surnames, it is derived from historical figures or geographical locations, and can be found among various Chinese-speaking populations.
滑 (huá) primarily means 'slippery' or 'to slide', while 光滑 (guānghuá) specifically means 'smooth' or 'polished'. 滑 can imply a certain quality of being slick, often in a negative context, whereas 光滑 emphasizes a sleek, refined surface.
You can use 滑 (huá) in sentences like '这个冰面很滑' (Zhège bīng miàn hěn huá), which means 'This ice surface is very slippery.' It can also describe actions, such as '他滑下山' (Tā huá xià shān), meaning 'He slid down the mountain.'
滑 (huá) means 'to slide' or 'smooth' in Chinese. It can also refer to something that is 'slippery' or describe a person as 'cunning'. This character can be used in various contexts, such as describing surfaces or behaviors.
Common phrases include 滑冰 (ice skating), 滑梯 (slide), and 滑水 (water skiing).
Focus on context; 滑 specifically implies smoothness or slipperiness, while other characters like 滑稽 (huájī) imply humor or being funny.
Yes, it can describe someone as clever or cunning, but be cautious as it can imply dishonesty.
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