HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #13485, Very Hard
涮
shuàn
to trick
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #13485, Very Hard
涮
shuàn
to fool sb
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #13485, Very Hard
涮
shuàn
to cook by dipping finely sliced ingredients briefly in boiling water or soup (generally done at the dining table)
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #13485, Very Hard
涮
shuàn
to rinse; to boil or cook in juice
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 氵, rank #13485, Very Hard
shuàn(shuan4) T4
1to rinse
2to trick
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March 24, 2026
涮shuàn(shuan4)
The character 涮 (shuàn) primarily means to quickly dip or rinse food, especially thinly sliced ingredients, in boiling water or soup, a common practice in hot pot dining. Additionally, it can mean to trick or fool someone, often used in informal contexts. The culinary usage emphasizes a social and interactive aspect of dining in Chinese culture.
Strokes11Radical氵Frequency#13485DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Hot pot, where 涮 is often employed, is a beloved dining experience in China, representing communal eating and sharing food. It’s a common way for families and friends to bond over a meal, emphasizing togetherness and interaction.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'shallow' soup (sounds like 'shuàn') where you 'rinse' vegetables and meat quickly. The character 涮 combines the water radical 氵, suggesting the action of dipping in liquid, with the phonetic component 'shuan', linking the sound to the action.
Meanings of 涮
shuàn(shuan4)
1to rinse
2to trick
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 涮
涮Simplified
11Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13485Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 涮
Podcast: 涮
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AI Study Notes for 涮
Quick Contrast
涮 (shuàn) vs 烫 (tàng): Use 涮 when referring to quickly dipping food in boiling liquid, while 烫 indicates a more general action of scalding or heating something with hot water.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'shallow' soup (sounds like 'shuàn') where you 'rinse' vegetables and meat quickly. The character 涮 combines the water radical 氵, suggesting the action of dipping in liquid, with the phonetic component 'shuan', linking the sound to the action.
Usage Notes
When using 涮 in a culinary context, it is typically associated with hot pot meals, so remember to use it in informal settings. A common mistake is to confuse it with 煮 (zhǔ), which means to boil for a longer time. Ensure you use the correct tone to avoid misunderstanding: 涮 (shuàn) is the fourth tone.
HSK Study Tips
Although 涮 is not part of the official HSK levels, it connects well with food-related vocabulary commonly found in HSK materials. Focus on learning related cooking terms and phrases that might come up in dining scenarios, as this will enhance your conversational skills.
Cultural Note
Hot pot, where 涮 is often employed, is a beloved dining experience in China, representing communal eating and sharing food. It’s a common way for families and friends to bond over a meal, emphasizing togetherness and interaction.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 涮 in contexts implying prolonged cooking, such as saying 'I 涮 the chicken for an hour.' Instead, it should be 'I 涮 the chicken briefly in the hot pot.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 涮
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Grammar Patterns of 涮
涮 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 2
Complete the Sentence
倒掉沉渣,把壶____干净.
Pour the dregs away and rinse the pot.
Example Sentences for 涮 (1)
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1
倒掉沉渣,把壶涮干净.
dǎo diào chén zhā, , bǎ hú shuàn gān.
Pour the dregs away and rinse the pot.
Cultural Notes for 涮
🏮Cultural insight
Hot pot, where 涮 is often employed, is a beloved dining experience in China, representing communal eating and sharing food. It’s a common way for families and friends to bond over a meal, emphasizing togetherness and interaction.
Word Family of 涮
Words Containing This Character4
涮shuànto rinse
涮羊肉Mongolian hot pot
开涮to play tricks on開涮
涮锅子hot pot涮鍋子
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 涮 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 涮
涮 (shuàn) refers to quickly dipping food in boiling liquid, while 煮 (zhǔ) means to boil food for a longer time.
涮 is mostly used in informal settings, particularly around dining, so it may not be suitable for formal conversations.
You can 涮 various ingredients such as thinly sliced meats, vegetables, and even noodles, as long as they are cut into small pieces.
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