Mandarin TempleCome for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
沉着 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
沉着chénzhuósteadyHSK 7, v, 18 strokes, rank #14699, Very Hard
沉着chénzhuócalm and collectedHSK 7, v, 18 strokes, rank #14699, Very Hard
沉着chénzhuónot nervousHSK 7, v, 18 strokes, rank #14699, Very Hard
chénzhuó(chen2zhuo2)chen zhuo T2
  1. 1steady
  2. 2calm and collected
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

沉着(沉著)chénzhuó(chen2zhuo2)

The term 沉着 (chen2 zhuo2) describes a state of being calm and composed, especially in challenging situations. It emphasizes the ability to remain steady and not become flustered, which is highly valued in both personal and professional contexts.

Strokes18Frequency#14699DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, being 沉着 is often associated with wisdom and maturity. It is a desirable quality in leaders and is frequently highlighted in traditional teachings about the importance of maintaining composure in adversity.

Memory tip

Imagine a serene lake (沉) that remains undisturbed (着) even when a storm brews overhead. The calm surface represents a steady mind, keeping cool under pressure, just like the pronunciation 'chen' which sounds like 'calm' in English.

Meanings of 沉着

chénzhuó(chen2zhuo2)
1steady
2calm and collected
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 沉着 means.

About 沉着

沉着Simplified
沉著Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#14699Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 沉着

JasonAmy

Podcast: 沉着

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 沉着

Quick Contrast

冷静 (lěngjìng) — use 沉着 (chénzhuó) when emphasizing composure under pressure, while 冷静 (lěngjìng) focuses more on a general state of calmness.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include using 沉着 in overly informal contexts, as it is more suited for formal situations. Learners might confuse it with words like 放松 (fang4 song1), which means relaxed, but 沉着 specifically emphasizes steadiness amidst pressure.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 沉着 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to emotional states and decision-making. Focus on using it in scenarios that require describing reactions to stressful situations, practicing both its pronunciation and context.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 沉着 with the word 激动 (ji1 dong4), which means excited. For example, saying '我在考试时感到沉着' (I felt excited during the exam) is incorrect; the correct term would be '冷静' (calm).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 沉着

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 沉着, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 沉着 to you

Let me explain 沉着 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 沉着 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 沉着?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 沉着 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

沉chénto submerge
HSK 57 strokes氵
View full entry
着zheaspect particle indicating action in progress
HSK 211 strokes目
View full entry

How to say steady in Chinese

“steady” in Chinese is沉着chénzhuó

The term 沉着 (chen2 zhuo2) describes a state of being calm and composed, especially in challenging situations. It emphasizes the ability to remain steady and not become flustered, which is highly valued in both personal and professional contexts.

When to use 沉着

Common mistakes include using 沉着 in overly informal contexts, as it is more suited for formal situations. Learners might confuse it with words like 放松 (fang4 song1), which means relaxed, but 沉着 specifically emphasizes steadiness amidst pressure.

沉着 or something close to it

冷静 (lěngjìng) — use 沉着 (chénzhuó) when emphasizing composure under pressure, while 冷静 (lěngjìng) focuses more on a general state of calmness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 沉着 with the word 激动 (ji1 dong4), which means excited. For example, saying '我在考试时感到沉着' (I felt excited during the exam) is incorrect; the correct term would be '冷静' (calm).

Write 沉着

沉
着

Practice writing 沉着 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar patterns of 沉着

沉着 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 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 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

乔治·弗雷泽显然是个好士兵，____冷静且适应力强。

George Fraser was clearly a good soldier, calm and resilient.

Example sentences for 沉着 (34)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
乔治·弗雷泽显然是个好士兵，沉着冷静且适应力强。

qiáo zhì· fú léi zé xiǎnrán shì gè hǎo shìbīng， chénzhuó lěngjìng qiě shìyìng lì jiàng。

George Fraser was clearly a good soldier, calm and resilient.
2
显然，她是全家口才最好、最沉着冷静的人。

xiǎnrán， tā shì quánjiā kǒucái zuìhǎo、 zuì chénzhuó lěngjìng de rén。

She is clearly the most articulate and self-possessed member of her family.
3
她是个非常沉着的人。没什么能让她惊慌的。

tā shì gè fēicháng chénzhuó de rén。 méishénme néng ràng tā jīnghuāng de。

She was a very calm person. Nothing could fluster her.
4
每个人都必须冷静沉着地仔细考虑这一情况。

měi gèrén dōu bìxū lěngjìng chénzhuó dì zǐxì kǎolǜ zhè yī qíngkuàng。

Everyone must think this situation through calmly and coolly.
5
“好吧，请继续，”卡米拉用很沉着的语气说道。

“ hǎo ba， qǐng jìxù，” kǎ mǐ lā yòng hěn chénzhuó de yǔqì shuōdào。

"Well, go on," said Camilla, her voice fairly steady.
6
她以沉着冷静著称。

tā yǐ chénzhuó lěngjìng zhùchēng。

She has a reputation for being calm and cool-headed.
7
她冲他阴沉着脸。

tā chōng tā yīn chénzhuó liǎn。

She made a sour face in his direction.
8
蕾切尔看上去沉着冷静。

lěi qiē ěr kànshangqu chénzhuó lěngjìng。

Rachel appeared poised and calm.
9
安妮处乱不惊，十分冷静沉着。

Ān nī chǔ luàn bù jīng， shífēn lěngjìng chénzhuó。

Anne had remained unruffled, very cool and controlled.
10
他们划起桨来从容沉着,可以这样划一天.

tāmen huá qǐ jiǎng lái cóngróng chénzhuó, kěyǐ zhèyàng huá yī tiān.

They rowed with a steady stroke that was to last all day.
11
在紧急情况下，他总是能够保持沉着，找到解决问题的方法。

Zài jǐnjí qíngkuàng xià, tā zǒng shì nénggòu bǎochí chénzhuó, zhǎodào jiějué wèntí de fāngfǎ.

In emergency situations, he can always remain steady and find ways to solve problems.
12
面对复杂的谈判，她表现得非常沉着，最终赢得了客户的信任。

Miànduì fùzá de tánpàn, tā biǎoxiàn de fēicháng chénzhuó, zuìzhōng yíngdé le kèhù de xìnrèn.

During the complex negotiations, she remained very steady and ultimately earned the client's trust.
13
在危机时刻，他展现了非凡的沉着，迅速采取了有效的措施。

Zài wēijī shíkè, tā zhǎnxiànle fēifán de chénzhuó, xùnsù cǎiqǔle yǒuxiào de cuòshī.

During the crisis, he displayed remarkable steadiness and quickly took effective measures.
14
她以沉着的态度面对挑战，最终取得了成功。

Tā yǐ chénzhuó de tàidu miàn duì tiǎozhàn, zuìzhōng qǔdéle chénggōng.

She faced the challenges with a steady attitude and ultimately succeeded.
15
演讲时，他的声音沉着而有力，吸引了所有人的注意。

Yǎnjiǎng shí, tā de shēngyīn chénzhuó ér yǒulì, xīyǐnle suǒyǒu rén de zhùyì.

During the speech, his voice was steady and powerful, capturing everyone's attention.
16
无论发生什么，他总是以沉着的方式处理事务，令人佩服。

Wúlùn fāshēng shénme, tā zǒng shì yǐ chénzhuó de fāngshì chǔlǐ shìwù, lìng rén pèifú.

No matter what happens, he always handles matters in a steady way, earning admiration.
17
在紧急情况下，他总是能够保持沉着，找到解决问题的方法。

Zài jǐnjí qíngkuàng xià, tā zǒng shì nénggòu bǎochí chénzhuó, zhǎodào jiějué wèntí de fāngfǎ.

In emergency situations, he can always remain steady and find ways to solve problems.
18
面对复杂的谈判，她表现得非常沉着，最终赢得了客户的信任。

Miànduì fùzá de tánpàn, tā biǎoxiàn de fēicháng chénzhuó, zuìzhōng yíngdé le kèhù de xìnrèn.

During the complex negotiations, she remained very steady and ultimately earned the client's trust.
19
在危机时刻，他展现了非凡的沉着，迅速采取了有效的措施。

Zài wēijī shíkè, tā zhǎnxiànle fēifán de chénzhuó, xùnsù cǎiqǔle yǒuxiào de cuòshī.

During the crisis, he displayed remarkable steadiness and quickly took effective measures.
20
她以沉着的态度面对挑战，最终取得了成功。

Tā yǐ chénzhuó de tàidu miàn duì tiǎozhàn, zuìzhōng qǔdéle chénggōng.

She faced the challenges with a steady attitude and ultimately succeeded.
21
演讲时，他的声音沉着而有力，吸引了所有人的注意。

Yǎnjiǎng shí, tā de shēngyīn chénzhuó ér yǒulì, xīyǐnle suǒyǒu rén de zhùyì.

During the speech, his voice was steady and powerful, capturing everyone's attention.
22
无论发生什么，他总是以沉着的方式处理事务，令人佩服。

Wúlùn fāshēng shénme, tā zǒng shì yǐ chénzhuó de fāngshì chǔlǐ shìwù, lìng rén pèifú.

No matter what happens, he always handles matters in a steady way, earning admiration.
23
在紧急情况下，他总是能够保持沉着，找到解决问题的方法。

Zài jǐnjí qíngkuàng xià, tā zǒng shì nénggòu bǎochí chénzhuó, zhǎodào jiějué wèntí de fāngfǎ.

In emergency situations, he can always remain steady and find ways to solve problems.
24
面对复杂的谈判，她表现得非常沉着，最终赢得了客户的信任。

Miànduì fùzá de tánpàn, tā biǎoxiàn de fēicháng chénzhuó, zuìzhōng yíngdé le kèhù de xìnrèn.

During the complex negotiations, she remained very steady and ultimately earned the client's trust.
25
在危机时刻，他展现了非凡的沉着，迅速采取了有效的措施。

Zài wēijī shíkè, tā zhǎnxiànle fēifán de chénzhuó, xùnsù cǎiqǔle yǒuxiào de cuòshī.

During the crisis, he displayed remarkable steadiness and quickly took effective measures.
26
她以沉着的态度面对挑战，最终取得了成功。

Tā yǐ chénzhuó de tàidu miàn duì tiǎozhàn, zuìzhōng qǔdéle chénggōng.

She faced the challenges with a steady attitude and ultimately succeeded.
27
演讲时，他的声音沉着而有力，吸引了所有人的注意。

Yǎnjiǎng shí, tā de shēngyīn chénzhuó ér yǒulì, xīyǐnle suǒyǒu rén de zhùyì.

During the speech, his voice was steady and powerful, capturing everyone's attention.
28
无论发生什么，他总是以沉着的方式处理事务，令人佩服。

Wúlùn fāshēng shénme, tā zǒng shì yǐ chénzhuó de fāngshì chǔlǐ shìwù, lìng rén pèifú.

No matter what happens, he always handles matters in a steady way, earning admiration.
29
在紧急情况下，他总是能够保持沉着，找到解决问题的方法。

Zài jǐnjí qíngkuàng xià, tā zǒng shì nénggòu bǎochí chénzhuó, zhǎodào jiějué wèntí de fāngfǎ.

In emergency situations, he can always remain steady and find ways to solve problems.
30
面对复杂的谈判，她表现得非常沉着，最终赢得了客户的信任。

Miànduì fùzá de tánpàn, tā biǎoxiàn de fēicháng chénzhuó, zuìzhōng yíngdé le kèhù de xìnrèn.

During the complex negotiations, she remained very steady and ultimately earned the client's trust.
31
在危机时刻，他展现了非凡的沉着，迅速采取了有效的措施。

Zài wēijī shíkè, tā zhǎnxiànle fēifán de chénzhuó, xùnsù cǎiqǔle yǒuxiào de cuòshī.

During the crisis, he displayed remarkable steadiness and quickly took effective measures.
32
她以沉着的态度面对挑战，最终取得了成功。

Tā yǐ chénzhuó de tàidu miàn duì tiǎozhàn, zuìzhōng qǔdéle chénggōng.

She faced the challenges with a steady attitude and ultimately succeeded.
33
演讲时，他的声音沉着而有力，吸引了所有人的注意。

Yǎnjiǎng shí, tā de shēngyīn chénzhuó ér yǒulì, xīyǐnle suǒyǒu rén de zhùyì.

During the speech, his voice was steady and powerful, capturing everyone's attention.
34
无论发生什么，他总是以沉着的方式处理事务，令人佩服。

Wúlùn fāshēng shénme, tā zǒng shì yǐ chénzhuó de fāngshì chǔlǐ shìwù, lìng rén pèifú.

No matter what happens, he always handles matters in a steady way, earning admiration.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 沉着?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 沉着

You can say '在危机时刻，他表现得非常沉着,' which means 'In a crisis, he remained very calm and composed.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 沉着?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab