水 shuǐ — water
清清的水从山间慢慢流过。Qīng qīng de shuǐ cóng shān jiān màn màn liú guò.Clear water slowly flows through the mountains.
Common words: 水果 (shuǐ guǒ)、水平 (shuǐ píng)、药水 (yào shuǐ)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "water"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "water", including 水 (shuǐ), 引 (yǐn), 严 (yán), 浩 (hào). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "water" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 水 (shuǐ), 引 (yǐn), 严 (yán), 浩 (hào) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span shuǐ, yǐn, yán, hào — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 水 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 水 shuǐwaterUseful words: 水果, 水平
- 引 yǐnto lead; to divert (water); to guideUseful words: 引起, 吸引
- 严 yán(air or water) tight; stern; serious; strict; severeUseful words: 严重, 严格
- 浩 hàogrand; vast (water)Useful words: 浩劫, 浩大
Common words for these 4 "water" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 水 (shuǐ) — so "water" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
水果shuǐ guǒfruit水平shuǐ pínghorizontal; level; a standard; a level (of ability, development etc)药水yào shuǐmedicine in liquid form; bottled medicine; lotion引起yǐn qǐto give rise to; to lead to; to cause; to arouse吸引xī yǐnto attract; to appeal to; to fascinate引导yǐn dǎoto guide; to lead (around); to conduct; to boot严重yán zhònggrave; serious; severe; critical严格yán géstrict; stringent; tight; rigorous严肃yán sù(of an atmosphere etc) solemn; grave; serious; (of a manner etc) earnest浩劫hào jiécalamity; catastrophe; apocalypse
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 4 ways to say "water".
引 yǐn — to lead; to divert (water); to guide
这本书深深地吸引了我。Zhè běn shū shēn shēn de xī yǐn le wǒ.This book attracted me deeply.
Common words: 引起 (yǐn qǐ)、吸引 (xī yǐn)、引导 (yǐn dǎo)
严 yán — (air or water) tight; stern; serious; strict; severe
我们的老师很严格。Wǒ men de lǎo shī hěn yán gé.Our teacher is very strict.
Common words: 严重 (yán zhòng)、严格 (yán gé)、严肃 (yán sù)
浩 hào — grand; vast (water)
大海浩瀚无边，望不到尽头。Dà hǎi hào hàn wú biān, wàng bu dào jìn tóu.The sea is vast and boundless, stretching beyond sight.
Common words: 浩劫 (hào jié)、浩大 (hào dà)、浩然 (hào rán)
All 4 characters
Open 水、引、严 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.