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March 24, 2026
滚(滾)gǔn(gun3)
The character 滚 (gǔn) primarily means 'to boil' or 'to roll.' It can also be used colloquially to tell someone to 'get lost' or 'take a hike,' especially in a confrontational context. This dual usage makes it versatile in both cooking and casual conversation, often conveying a sense of urgency or displeasure.
Strokes13Radical氵Frequency#781DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cooking, boiling is a fundamental technique, and 滚 is frequently used when discussing methods of preparing food. Understanding this term can enhance one's appreciation of Chinese culinary practices, especially in soup and noodle dishes.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pot of water boiling and rolling over the edge of the stove—this is 滚 (gǔn), where the water is in a hurry to escape. The character has the radical for water (水) on the left, reinforcing its connection to boiling, while the right side suggests movement or rolling.
Meanings of 滚
gǔn(gun3)
1to boil
2to roll
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 滚
滚Simplified
滾Traditional
13Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#781Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 滚
Podcast: 滚
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AI Study Notes for 滚
Quick Contrast
滚 (gǔn) vs 走 (zǒu) — use 滚 for a more confrontational or dismissive tone, while 走 is more neutral and simply means 'to go.'
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pot of water boiling and rolling over the edge of the stove—this is 滚 (gǔn), where the water is in a hurry to escape. The character has the radical for water (水) on the left, reinforcing its connection to boiling, while the right side suggests movement or rolling.
Usage Notes
滾 is often used in informal contexts, especially in spoken language. Be careful not to use it in formal situations, as it can come off as rude. Common collocations include 滚水 (boiling water) and 滚蛋 (to roll out, a slang term for 'get lost').
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 滚 connects with other verbs involving movement or action, such as 跑 (pǎo, to run) and 游 (yóu, to swim). Students should focus on understanding its dual meanings and practice using it in both cooking and conversational contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cooking, boiling is a fundamental technique, and 滚 is frequently used when discussing methods of preparing food. Understanding this term can enhance one's appreciation of Chinese culinary practices, especially in soup and noodle dishes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 滚 with similar-sounding words like 过 (guò, to pass) or 锅 (guō, pot). For example, saying 滚水 (gǔnshuǐ) is correct for 'boiling water', but saying 滚过 (gǔnguò) is incorrect as it mixes meanings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 滚
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Grammar Patterns of 滚
滚 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 patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3
...
❝
他是滚的。
tā shì gǔn de.
He is the one who rolls.
Exercise 1 of 1
Build the Sentence
He is the one who rolls.
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Common Confusions with 滚
滚 is a verb meaning 'to roll', while 滚动 refers to 'rolling' as an action or process.
1
球在滚，而车轮在滚动。
滚 is a verb meaning 'to roll', while 滚动 refers to 'rolling' as an action or process.
💡滚 is the action, 滚动 is the ongoing process.
Usage Notes for 滚
Misuse of 滚 in casual contextCommon Error
滚 can be used in a casual or harsh way (e.g., 'Get lost!'), but learners should be cautious about its tone.
Don't forget, I have always kept the money rolling in.
10
这条红裙的领口有细细的黑色滚边。
zhè tiáo hóng qún de lǐng kǒu yǒu xì xì de hēi sè gǔn biān。
The red dress had slim black piping around the neck.
Cultural Notes for 滚
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cooking, boiling is a fundamental technique, and 滚 is frequently used when discussing methods of preparing food. Understanding this term can enhance one's appreciation of Chinese culinary practices, especially in soup and noodle dishes.
Word Family of 滚
Words Containing This Character20
滚gǔnto boil滾
摇滚yáogǔnto rock搖滾
滚开boiling hot滾開
滚滚to surge on滾滾
滚蛋beat it!滾蛋
滚动gǔndòngto roll滾動
翻滚to roll翻滾
摇滚乐rock music搖滾樂
打滚to roll about打滾
滚烫boiling滾燙
滚筒roller滾筒
摸爬滚打to go through challenging experiences摸爬滾打
滚珠bearing ball滾珠
滚子roller滾子
滚水boiling water滾水
圆滚滚plump圓滾滾
滚边(of a dress etc) border, edging滾邊
连滚带爬liángǔndàipárolling and crawling連滾帶爬
滚圆as round as a ball滾圓
屁滚尿流to piss in one's pants in terror (idiom); scared witless屁滾尿流
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 滚 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 滚
滚 (gǔn) and 走 (zǒu) both mean 'to leave' or 'to go,' but 滚 is much more informal and can carry a rude connotation, often used to tell someone to 'get lost.' 走 is more neutral and can be used in polite contexts, such as '我们走吧' (wǒmen zǒu ba), meaning 'let's go.'
滚 (gǔn) is generally considered informal and is not suitable for formal writing or speech. It is often used in casual conversations among friends or in situations where a strong tone is appropriate. For formal contexts, it's better to use words like 离开 (líkāi) which means 'to leave.'
滚 (gǔn) has several meanings in Chinese, including 'to boil' and 'to roll.' It can also be used informally to tell someone to 'get lost' or 'take a hike.' Understanding the context is essential for using this word appropriately.
You can use 滚 (gǔn) in various contexts. For example, when referring to boiling water, you might say '水在滚' (shuǐ zài gǔn) meaning 'the water is boiling.' In a casual context, if someone is bothering you, you could say '滚开' (gǔn kāi), which translates to 'get lost.'
Instead of using 滚, you might say 离开 (líkāi) which is more polite.
It's best reserved for informal contexts, especially in spoken language, as it may seem too aggressive in writing.
Common phrases include 滚开 (gǔnkāi, 'get lost!') and 滚水 (gǔnshuǐ, 'boiling water').
