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粥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
粥
yù
congee
HSK 6, n, 12 strokes, radical 米, rank #9270, Hard
粥
yù
gruel
HSK 6, n, 12 strokes, radical 米, rank #9270, Hard
粥
yù
porridge
HSK 6, n, 12 strokes, radical 米, rank #9270, Hard
粥
zhōu
congee
HSK 6, n, 12 strokes, radical 米, rank #9270, Hard
粥
zhōu
gruel
HSK 6, n, 12 strokes, radical 米, rank #9270, Hard
粥
zhōu
porridge
HSK 6, n, 12 strokes, radical 米, rank #9270, Hard
yù(yu4)yu
primary
T4
1congee
2gruel
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March 24, 2026
粥yù(yu4)
粥 (yù) refers to a type of rice porridge or gruel, commonly consumed for breakfast in Chinese culture. It is made by boiling rice in a large amount of water until it breaks down into a soft, creamy consistency. This dish can be served plain or with various toppings, making it versatile for different tastes and preferences.
Strokes12Radical米Frequency#9270DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, 粥 is often seen as a comfort food and is commonly consumed when one is unwell, believed to be easy on the stomach and nourishing. It is also a staple in many traditional Chinese breakfasts, symbolizing warmth and care.
Memory tip
Imagine a warm bowl of porridge steaming in front of you, resembling a cozy hug on a chilly morning. The character 粥 consists of the radical '米' (rice) at the bottom, symbolizing its main ingredient, and the top part '猪' (pig) can remind you that it’s hearty and filling, just like a pig would enjoy a good meal.
Meanings of 粥
yù(yu4)
primary
1congee
2gruel
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 粥 means.
About 粥
粥Simplified
12Strokes
米Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9270Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 粥
Podcast: 粥
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AI study notes for 粥
Quick Contrast
稀饭 (xīfàn) — use 粥 for a thicker, creamy consistency, while 稀饭 refers to a thinner rice porridge.
Usage Notes
When using 粥, it's important to note that it is typically used in a more informal context, often associated with home-cooked meals. Learners may confuse it with other porridge types by using the wrong classifiers; remember to pair it correctly with 碗 (wǎn) when referring to a bowl of congee.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 vocabulary word, 粥 connects with other food-related terms, enhancing your culinary vocabulary. Focus on learning how to describe various dishes and their preparation methods, which will enrich your conversations about Chinese cuisine.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 粥 interchangeably with other types of porridge like oatmeal or grits, which can lead to confusion. Instead, remember that 粥 specifically refers to the rice-based porridge unique to Chinese cuisine.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 粥
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Learning Lab
Knowing 粥 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.
粥 (yù) refers to a type of rice porridge or gruel, commonly consumed for breakfast in Chinese culture. It is made by boiling rice in a large amount of water until it breaks down into a soft, creamy consistency. This dish can be served plain or with various toppings, making it versatile for different tastes and preferences.
When to use 粥
When using 粥, it's important to note that it is typically used in a more informal context, often associated with home-cooked meals. Learners may confuse it with other porridge types by using the wrong classifiers; remember to pair it correctly with 碗 (wǎn) when referring to a bowl of congee.
粥 or something close to it
稀饭 (xīfàn) — use 粥 for a thicker, creamy consistency, while 稀饭 refers to a thinner rice porridge.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 粥 interchangeably with other types of porridge like oatmeal or grits, which can lead to confusion. Instead, remember that 粥 specifically refers to the rice-based porridge unique to Chinese cuisine.
Write 粥
粥
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Practice writing 粥 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 粥
粥 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 3 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他总是卿卿我我地跟女朋友煲电话____。
He's constantly on the phone to his girlfriend being soppy.
Example sentences for 粥 (28)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他总是卿卿我我地跟女朋友煲电话粥。
tā zǒngshì qīng qīng wǒ wǒ dì gēn nǚpéngyou bāo diànhuà yù。
He's constantly on the phone to his girlfriend being soppy.
2
她正在给小孩子喂粥.
tā zhèngzài gěi xiǎohái zi wèi yù.
She was feeding the baby with porridge.
3
赤小豆熬成的粥又香又甜.
chì xiǎo dòu áo chéng de yù yòu xiāng yòu tián.
Porridge made of red beans is both savory and sweet.
4
一碗麦片粥
yī wǎn mài piàn yù
a bowl of cereal
5
犯人们每日三餐靠一碗稀粥度日。
fàn rénmen měi rì sān cān kào yī wǎn xī yù dù rì。
The prisoners subsisted on one mug of the worst quality porridge three times a day.
6
粥熬得太糨了.
yù áo de tài jiàng le.
The porridge is too thick.
7
我们早餐吃的是麦片粥.
wǒmen zǎocān chī de shì mài piàn yù.
We had gruel for the breakfast.
8
粥还温和呢.
yù hái wēnhé ne.
The porredge is still warm.
9
粥太稀了.
yù tài xī le.
This gruel is too thin.
10
粥很稠.
yù hěn chóu.
The porridge is very thick.
11
他总是看着电视，连粥都煮糊了。
Tā zǒng shì kànzhe diànshì, lián zhōu dōu zhǔ hú le.
