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蒸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
蒸
zhēng
to evaporate
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #12723, Very Hard
蒸
zhēng
(of cooking) to steam
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #12723, Very Hard
蒸
zhēng
torch made from hemp stalks or bamboo (old)
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #12723, Very Hard
蒸
zhēng
finely chopped firewood (old)
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #12723, Very Hard
蒸
zhēng
steam, vapor; to evaporate
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 艹, rank #12723, Very Hard
zhēng(zheng1)zheng T1
1to evaporate
2(of cooking) to steam
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March 24, 2026
蒸zhēng(zheng1)
The character 蒸 (zhēng) primarily means 'to steam' in a cooking context, referring to the method of cooking food by using steam. It can also mean 'to evaporate,' indicating the process of a liquid turning into vapor. This word is commonly used in culinary discussions and can denote both the method of preparation and the resulting texture of the food.
Strokes13Radical艹Frequency#12723DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese cuisine, steaming is a popular cooking method that retains the nutrients and flavors of ingredients. Dishes like steamed dumplings (蒸饺) and fish are staples in many Chinese households, emphasizing the importance of 蒸 in culinary traditions.
Memory tip
Imagine a steaming pot that looks like a big cloud (the 蒸 character has a 'cloud' radical at the top) releasing soft, delicious food (the bottom part suggests cooking). Picture yourself saying 'zhēng' as you lift the lid and see the steam escape, making the food inside tender and flavorful.
Meanings of 蒸
zhēng(zheng1)
1to evaporate
2(of cooking) to steam
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 蒸 means.
About 蒸
蒸Simplified
13Strokes
艹Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#12723Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 蒸
Podcast: 蒸
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AI study notes for 蒸
Quick Contrast
蒸 (zhēng, to steam) vs 煮 (zhǔ, to boil) — use 蒸 for cooking with steam rather than boiling in water.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 蒸 (zhēng) with 煮 (zhǔ), which means 'to boil.' Remember that 蒸 specifically relates to cooking with steam. It is typically used in informal settings but can also appear in recipes and cooking instructions.
HSK Study Tips
Although 蒸 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it aligns with cooking-related terms that might appear in daily conversations. Students should focus on understanding its use in various cooking contexts and how it relates to other cooking verbs like 煮 (to boil) and 炒 (to stir-fry).
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is confusing 蒸 with 煮; for example, saying '我蒸水' (Wǒ zhēng shuǐ) which means 'I steam water' is incorrect. Instead, use 煮: '我煮水' (Wǒ zhǔ shuǐ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蒸
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 蒸 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.
The character 蒸 (zhēng) primarily means 'to steam' in a cooking context, referring to the method of cooking food by using steam. It can also mean 'to evaporate,' indicating the process of a liquid turning into vapor. This word is commonly used in culinary discussions and can denote both the method of preparation and the resulting texture of the food.
When to use 蒸
Learners often confuse 蒸 (zhēng) with 煮 (zhǔ), which means 'to boil.' Remember that 蒸 specifically relates to cooking with steam. It is typically used in informal settings but can also appear in recipes and cooking instructions.
蒸 or something close to it
蒸 (zhēng, to steam) vs 煮 (zhǔ, to boil) — use 蒸 for cooking with steam rather than boiling in water.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is confusing 蒸 with 煮; for example, saying '我蒸水' (Wǒ zhēng shuǐ) which means 'I steam water' is incorrect. Instead, use 煮: '我煮水' (Wǒ zhǔ shuǐ).
Write 蒸
蒸
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Practice writing 蒸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 蒸
蒸 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 5 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.
在发电厂里，热能将水转化成高压____汽。
In an electric power plant the heat converts water into high-pressure steam.
