HSK 7, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 火, rank #6850, Hard
dùn(dun4) T4
1stew; to cook stew
2to stew
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March 24, 2026
炖(燉)dùn(dun4)
The verb 炖 (dùn) refers to the cooking method of stewing, where food is cooked slowly in a small amount of liquid over low heat. This technique allows flavors to meld and enhances the tenderness of the ingredients, making it common in preparing soups, meats, and vegetables in Chinese cuisine.
Strokes8Radical火Frequency#6850DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Stewing is a traditional cooking method in Chinese cuisine, often associated with family meals and comfort food. Dishes like 红烧肉 (hóng shāo ròu, braised pork) showcase the importance of slow cooking to develop rich flavors.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pot simmering on a low flame, with ingredients slowly merging into a delicious stew. The word 炖 (dùn) looks like a pot (火, meaning fire) and the ingredients being cooked together. Visualize 'dùn' as 'dining' on a warm stew, with the 'd' sound reminding you of the deliciousness that comes from slow cooking.
Meanings of 炖
dùn(dun4)
1stew; to cook stew
2to stew
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 炖
炖Simplified
燉Traditional
8Strokes
火Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 炖
Podcast: 炖
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AI Study Notes for 炖
Quick Contrast
煮 (zhǔ) - use 炖 when referring to slow cooking for flavor melding, while 煮 is for boiling or cooking quickly in water.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pot simmering on a low flame, with ingredients slowly merging into a delicious stew. The word 炖 (dùn) looks like a pot (火, meaning fire) and the ingredients being cooked together. Visualize 'dùn' as 'dining' on a warm stew, with the 'd' sound reminding you of the deliciousness that comes from slow cooking.
Usage Notes
While 炖 is primarily used in the context of cooking, it can also appear in phrases like '炖汤' (dùn tāng, stewed soup). Be careful not to confuse it with 煮 (zhǔ), which refers to boiling. This word is typically used in informal settings; however, it can be used in more formal culinary contexts as well.
HSK Study Tips
Although 炖 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other cooking-related terms at this level. Students should focus on the context of cooking and how this word interacts with ingredients and dishes, enhancing their culinary vocabulary.
Cultural Note
Stewing is a traditional cooking method in Chinese cuisine, often associated with family meals and comfort food. Dishes like 红烧肉 (hóng shāo ròu, braised pork) showcase the importance of slow cooking to develop rich flavors.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 炖 with 煮 when describing cooking methods. For example, saying '我煮牛肉' (Wǒ zhǔ niúròu) implies boiling beef, rather than stewing it, which is incorrect if stewing is intended.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 炖
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Grammar Patterns of 炖
炖 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 2 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.
To reconstitute dried tomatoes, simmer in plain water until they are tender.
7
我炖了些豆子，和羊肘子一块吃。
wǒ dùn le xiē dòu zǐ， ， hé yáng zhǒu zǐ yī kuài。
I braised some beans to accompany a shoulder of lamb.
8
用小炖锅炖，收一半汤汁。
yòng xiǎo dùn guō dùn， ， shōu yī bàn tāng。
Boil the liquid in a small saucepan to reduce it by half.
9
她拿勺捞起鸡骨头放回了炖锅里。
tā ná sháo lāo qǐ jī gǔ tóu fàng huí le dùn guō lǐ。
She scooped the chicken bones back into the stewpot.
10
要是炖鸡块的话，先去掉鸡皮。
yào shì dùn jī kuài de huà， ， xiān qù diào jī。
If you casserole chicken pieces, take the skin off first.
Cultural Notes for 炖
🏮Cultural insight
Stewing is a traditional cooking method in Chinese cuisine, often associated with family meals and comfort food. Dishes like 红烧肉 (hóng shāo ròu, braised pork) showcase the importance of slow cooking to develop rich flavors.
Word Family of 炖
Words Containing This Character2
炖dùnto stew燉
清炖to stew meat without seasoning清燉
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 炖 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 炖
You can say, '我喜欢炖牛肉' (Wǒ xǐhuān dùn niúròu), meaning 'I like to stew beef.'
炖 (dùn) is for stewing slowly with less liquid, while 煮 (zhǔ) is for boiling quickly in water.
Yes, you can use 炖 for vegetables, but it's more common for meats and soups.
