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混浊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
混浊hùnzhuóturbidHSK 7, a, 20 strokes, rank #46221, Very Hard
混浊hùnzhuómuddyHSK 7, a, 20 strokes, rank #46221, Very Hard
混浊hùnzhuódirtyHSK 7, a, 20 strokes, rank #46221, Very Hard
hùnzhuó(hun4zhuo2)hun zhuo T4
  1. 1turbid
  2. 2muddy
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March 24, 2026

混浊(混濁)hùnzhuó(hun4zhuo2)

混浊 (hùn zhuó) describes something that is not clear or pure, often used to refer to liquids that are murky or dirty. It can also be used metaphorically to describe unclear thoughts or situations. In everyday contexts, you might hear this word when discussing water quality or in philosophical discussions about clarity of mind.

Strokes20Frequency#46221DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, clarity and purity are often associated with virtue and wisdom, making 混浊 not just a physical description but also a moral metaphor. Discussions about 清浊 (clarity and turbidity) can be found in traditional Chinese philosophy, particularly in texts discussing the nature of knowledge and wisdom.

Memory tip

Imagine a muddy pond (混) where the water is so dirty (浊) that you can't see the bottom. The '混' suggests a mix of dirt, while '浊' indicates that it is not clear, creating a vivid image of turbid water. The pronunciation 'hun4 zhuo2' can be remembered as 'hun' like 'fun' in a muddy situation, and 'zhuo' sounds like 'joke' — it's a joke if you think this water is clean!

Meanings of 混浊

hùnzhuó(hun4zhuo2)
1turbid
2muddy
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 混浊

混浊Simplified
混濁Traditional
20Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#46221Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 混浊

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Podcast: 混浊

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AI study notes for 混浊

Quick Contrast

浑浊 (hún zhuó) is often used interchangeably with 混浊 (hùn zhuó) in the context of describing murky liquids, but 混浊 (hùn zhuó) can also imply a metaphorical sense of lack of clarity that 浑浊 (hún zhuó) may not.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 混浊 with similar-sounding words like 清澈 (qīng chè), which means clear or pure. This word is more commonly used in formal contexts, especially in writing about environmental issues or philosophical discussions. Watch out for tone errors, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 混浊 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to clarity and purity, such as 清澈 (clear) and 纯净 (pure). Students should focus on understanding its nuances and usage in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 混浊 with 清澈, mistakenly using 混浊 when they mean something is clear. For example, saying '这水是混浊' (This water is turbid) when they mean to say '这水是清澈' (This water is clear) is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 混浊

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Component characters

混hùnconfused
HSK 611 strokes氵
View full entry
浊zhuóturbid
9 strokes氵
View full entry

How to say turbid in Chinese

“turbid” in Chinese is混浊hùnzhuó

混浊 (hùn zhuó) describes something that is not clear or pure, often used to refer to liquids that are murky or dirty. It can also be used metaphorically to describe unclear thoughts or situations. In everyday contexts, you might hear this word when discussing water quality or in philosophical discussions about clarity of mind.

When to use 混浊

Be careful not to confuse 混浊 with similar-sounding words like 清澈 (qīng chè), which means clear or pure. This word is more commonly used in formal contexts, especially in writing about environmental issues or philosophical discussions. Watch out for tone errors, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

混浊 or something close to it

浑浊 (hún zhuó) is often used interchangeably with 混浊 (hùn zhuó) in the context of describing murky liquids, but 混浊 (hùn zhuó) can also imply a metaphorical sense of lack of clarity that 浑浊 (hún zhuó) may not.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 混浊 with 清澈, mistakenly using 混浊 when they mean something is clear. For example, saying '这水是混浊' (This water is turbid) when they mean to say '这水是清澈' (This water is clear) is a common error.

Write 混浊

混
浊

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Grammar patterns of 混浊

混浊 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高,not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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 2

Fill the gap

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

它的碗具粗糙,空气____, 汤菜淡如水,餐巾薄如绢.

Its crockery and atmosphere were thick; its soup and napery thin.

Example sentences for 混浊 (2)

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1
它的碗具粗糙,空气混浊, 汤菜淡如水,餐巾薄如绢.

tā de wǎn jù cūcāo, kōngqì hùnzhuó, shāng cài dàn rú shuǐ, cān jīn báo rú juàn.

Its crockery and atmosphere were thick; its soup and napery thin.
2
她把它扔进了混浊的河水深处.

tā bǎ tā rēng jìn le hùnzhuó de hé shuǐ shēnchù.

She threw it into the river's murky depths.

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Frequently asked questions about 混浊

Yes, it can metaphorically describe unclear or muddled emotions, similar to how it describes turbid water.

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