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泔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
泔gānwater from washing rice; thick grueln, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #82692, Very Hard
泔gānslop from rinsing riceunknown, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #82692, Very Hard
gān(gan1) T1
  1. 1water from washing rice; thick gruel
  2. 2slop from rinsing rice
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

泔gān(gan1)

泔 (gān) refers to the liquid that results from washing rice, often containing starch and other residues. It can also denote a type of thick gruel or slop made from this rinsing water. This term is commonly used in culinary contexts, particularly in discussions about preparing rice or using it in various dishes.

Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#82692DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, rice is a staple food, and the process of washing rice is an integral part of preparation. The term 泔 reflects the importance of rice in daily life and its preparation methods.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pot of rice being washed, and as you drain the water, you see a thick, cloudy liquid—this is 泔 (gān). The character itself has the water radical (氵) which represents liquid, combined with the component '干' (gān), suggesting the action of washing or cleaning.

Meanings of 泔

gān(gan1)
1water from washing rice; thick gruel
2slop from rinsing rice
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 泔

泔Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 泔

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Podcast: 泔

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AI Study Notes for 泔

Usage Notes

泔 is a somewhat specialized term and may not be used frequently in everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with other terms for water or liquid. It typically appears in cooking contexts, so it's best used in discussions related to food preparation.

HSK Study Tips

While 泔 is not included in the HSK levels, it can enrich vocabulary related to food and cooking. Students should focus on its context and usage with other culinary terms. Pairing it with words like 米 (mǐ, rice) can help reinforce its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 泔 with other water-related terms like 水 (shuǐ) or 污水 (wūshuǐ, wastewater). For instance, saying '我喝泔' (Wǒ hē gān—'I drink slop') would be incorrect in most contexts, as it is not typically a drinkable substance.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 泔

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Etymology of 泔

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Sweet 甘 water 氵; 甘 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 泔

  1. 1The giveawaySweet 甘 water 氵; 甘 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 泔? 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 泔?

Decomposition of 泔

IDS Structure⿰氵甘
泔Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
甘Gan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 泔?

How to say water from washing rice; thick gruel in Chinese

“water from washing rice; thick gruel” in Chinese is泔gān

泔 (gān) refers to the liquid that results from washing rice, often containing starch and other residues. It can also denote a type of thick gruel or slop made from this rinsing water. This term is commonly used in culinary contexts, particularly in discussions about preparing rice or using it in various dishes.

When to use 泔

泔 is a somewhat specialized term and may not be used frequently in everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with other terms for water or liquid. It typically appears in cooking contexts, so it's best used in discussions related to food preparation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 泔 with other water-related terms like 水 (shuǐ) or 污水 (wūshuǐ, wastewater). For instance, saying '我喝泔' (Wǒ hē gān—'I drink slop') would be incorrect in most contexts, as it is not typically a drinkable substance.

Write 泔

泔

Practice writing 泔 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 泔

Words Containing This Character2
泔水slop
泔gānslop from rinsing rice
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 泔水 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 泔

No, 泔 is a more specialized term typically used in cooking contexts.

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