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洵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
洵xúntrue, real; truly, reallyg, 9 strokes, radical 氵
洵xúnwhirlpoolunknown, 9 strokes, radical 氵
xún(xun2) T2
  1. 1true, real; truly, really
  2. 2whirlpool
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

洵xún(xun2)

The character 洵 (xún) conveys the meanings of 'true' or 'real,' often used to emphasize sincerity or authenticity in various contexts. It can also refer to a 'whirlpool,' illustrating a sense of dynamic movement. This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary or formal contexts.

Strokes9Radical氵
Cultural Note

In classical Chinese literature, the concept of truth and authenticity is highly valued and is often explored through poetry and philosophy, making 洵 a character that resonates with deeper cultural themes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a whirlpool (the second meaning) swirling around a large, shining gem that represents truth. The character 洵 has the water radical (氵) on the left, symbolizing its connection to liquid, while the right side hints at something precious and genuine—like true feelings or authenticity.

Meanings of 洵

xún(xun2)
1true, real; truly, really
2whirlpool
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 洵

洵Simplified
9Strokes
氵Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 洵

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Podcast: 洵

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AI Study Notes for 洵

Usage Notes

This character is generally used in formal writing or literature, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Be cautious with its tones; using the wrong tone could change the meaning entirely. It often appears in phrases that discuss truthfulness or reality.

HSK Study Tips

Although 洵 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is important for learners to recognize it as part of more complex phrases and literature. Students should also focus on characters with the water radical to build contextual understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 洵 with similar characters like 真 (zhēn) which also means 'true.' For instance, saying 洵 instead of 真 in everyday conversation can sound awkward. Correct usage would be to reserve 洵 for more formal contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 洵

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Etymology of 洵

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

water

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 洵

  1. 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half旬 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 洵? 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 洵?

Decomposition of 洵

IDS Structure⿰氵旬
洵Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
旬xun2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 洵?

How to say true, real; truly, really in Chinese

“true, real; truly, really” in Chinese is洵xún

The character 洵 (xún) conveys the meanings of 'true' or 'real,' often used to emphasize sincerity or authenticity in various contexts. It can also refer to a 'whirlpool,' illustrating a sense of dynamic movement. This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in literary or formal contexts.

When to use 洵

This character is generally used in formal writing or literature, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Be cautious with its tones; using the wrong tone could change the meaning entirely. It often appears in phrases that discuss truthfulness or reality.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 洵 with similar characters like 真 (zhēn) which also means 'true.' For instance, saying 洵 instead of 真 in everyday conversation can sound awkward. Correct usage would be to reserve 洵 for more formal contexts.

Write 洵

洵

Practice writing 洵 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 洵

Words Containing This Character2
洵xúntruly
苏洵Su Xun (1009-1066), northern Song writer of prose蘇洵
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 洵 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 洵

It means 'true' or 'real' and can also refer to a 'whirlpool.'

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