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March 24, 2026
自来水(自來水)zìláishuǐ(zi4lai2shui3)
自来水 (zì lái shuǐ) refers to tap water or running water that is supplied to homes and buildings through a plumbing system. It is commonly used in everyday conversation when discussing water supply, drinking water, or plumbing issues.
Frequency#13494DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In urban China, access to 自来水 is a part of modern living, and many households rely on it for daily needs. However, the quality of tap water can vary, leading to discussions about water safety and filtration.
Memory Tip
Think of 自 (zì) as 'self' and 来 (lái) as 'come'; together, it suggests 'water that comes by itself'. Visualize a tap that automatically fills your glass, representing the convenience of running water.
Meanings of 自来水
zìláishuǐ(zi4lai2shui3)
1running water
2tap water
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About 自来水
自来水Simplified
自來水Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 自来水
Podcast: 自来水
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AI Study Notes for 自来水
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 自 (zì) as 'self' and 来 (lái) as 'come'; together, it suggests 'water that comes by itself'. Visualize a tap that automatically fills your glass, representing the convenience of running water.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 自来水 with bottled water (矿泉水, kuàngquán shuǐ), leading to misunderstandings in conversations about drinking preferences. This term is informal and widely used in daily life, so it's important to use it in the right context.
HSK Study Tips
While 自来水 is not explicitly listed in HSK word lists, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above when discussing daily life topics. Focus on the individual characters and their meanings to better understand compound words.
Cultural Note
In urban China, access to 自来水 is a part of modern living, and many households rely on it for daily needs. However, the quality of tap water can vary, leading to discussions about water safety and filtration.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 自来水 when referring to bottled water. For example, saying '我想要自来水' (wǒ xiǎng yào zìlái shuǐ) in a context where they want bottled water is incorrect; the correct term would be 矿泉水.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 自来水
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Cultural Notes for 自来水
🏮Cultural insight
In urban China, access to 自来水 is a part of modern living, and many households rely on it for daily needs. However, the quality of tap water can vary, leading to discussions about water safety and filtration.
Frequently Asked Questions about 自来水
In many cities, 自来水 is treated and generally safe to drink, but it's always best to check local guidelines.
You can say, '请给我一些自来水' (qǐng gěi wǒ yīxiē zìlái shuǐ) to request tap water.
自来水 refers to tap water from the plumbing system, while 矿泉水 refers to bottled mineral water.
