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洇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
洇yānto soak; to blot, to splotchv, 9 strokes, radical 氵
洇yānto blotchunknown, 9 strokes, radical 氵
洇yīnto soak; to blot, to splotchv, 9 strokes, radical 氵
洇yīnto blotchunknown, 9 strokes, radical 氵
yān(yan1)
primary
 T1
  1. 1to soak; to blot, to splotch
  2. 2to blotch
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

洇yān(yan1)

The character 洇 (yān) primarily means 'to soak' or 'to blot,' often used in contexts involving liquids saturating materials. It can also refer to the act of creating a splotch or stain, emphasizing the idea of moisture spreading unevenly. This word might be encountered in both literary and everyday contexts, particularly when discussing water or other liquids interacting with surfaces.

Strokes9Radical氵
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese painting, the technique of using watercolors to create splotches or blended effects is integral, making terms like 洇 relevant in artistic discussions. This reflects the cultural appreciation for fluidity and natural forms in Chinese art.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sponge (the character 洋) soaking up water, leaving a splotch on the table. The '水' (water) radical suggests moisture, while the character's form can remind you of something being soaked, as it 'blots' the surface beneath it.

Meanings of 洇

yān(yan1)
primary
1to soak; to blot, to splotch
2to blotch
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 洇

洇Simplified
9Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 洇

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Podcast: 洇

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AI Study Notes for 洇

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 洇 is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to its synonyms. It carries a more literary tone, so it's best suited for written contexts or specific discussions about soaking or staining. Avoid using it interchangeably with more common verbs like 浸 (jìn), which means 'to soak' more broadly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 洇 is not included in the standard HSK vocabulary, it shares thematic connections with other HSK words related to water, such as 水 (shuǐ) and 浸 (jìn). Focus on how this word fits into discussions of water and its interactions with objects to reinforce your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 洇 with 浸 (jìn) or 湿 (shī), leading to incorrect usage in discussions about soaking. For example, saying '我把衣服洇在水里' (I soaked my clothes in water) should be corrected to '我把衣服浸在水里.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 洇

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Etymology of 洇

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

water

Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)因
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 洇

  1. 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half因 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywater
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 洇? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 洇?

Decomposition of 洇

IDS Structure⿰氵因
洇Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
因yin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 洇?

How to say to soak; to blot, to splotch in Chinese

“to soak; to blot, to splotch” in Chinese is洇yān

The character 洇 (yān) primarily means 'to soak' or 'to blot,' often used in contexts involving liquids saturating materials. It can also refer to the act of creating a splotch or stain, emphasizing the idea of moisture spreading unevenly. This word might be encountered in both literary and everyday contexts, particularly when discussing water or other liquids interacting with surfaces.

When to use 洇

Be mindful that 洇 is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to its synonyms. It carries a more literary tone, so it's best suited for written contexts or specific discussions about soaking or staining. Avoid using it interchangeably with more common verbs like 浸 (jìn), which means 'to soak' more broadly.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 洇 with 浸 (jìn) or 湿 (shī), leading to incorrect usage in discussions about soaking. For example, saying '我把衣服洇在水里' (I soaked my clothes in water) should be corrected to '我把衣服浸在水里.'

Write 洇

洇

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 洇

Words Containing This Character1
洇yānto soak
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 洇 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 洇

No, 洇 is more commonly found in literary contexts or specific discussions about soaking or staining.

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