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胶水 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
胶水jiāoshuǐglueHSK 6, n, rank #9273, Hard
jiāoshuǐ(jiao1shui3) T1
  1. 1glue
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March 24, 2026
胶水(膠水)jiāoshuǐ(jiao1shui3)

胶水 (jiāo shuǐ) refers to a sticky substance used for bonding materials together, commonly known as glue. It is widely used in crafts, construction, and various repair tasks, making it an essential item in daily life and work environments.

Frequency#9273DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, crafting and DIY projects are significant, particularly during holidays like the Spring Festival, where families may engage in home decorations, often needing 胶水 for their projects.

Memory Tip

Imagine a jellyfish (the '胶' in 胶水) swimming in water ('水'), representing the sticky nature of glue that can bind things together like a jellyfish's tentacles. The sound 'jiāo' resembles 'jelly', which is also sticky, helping you remember its meaning.

Meanings of 胶水

jiāoshuǐ(jiao1shui3)
1glue
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 胶水

胶水Simplified
膠水Traditional
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9273Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 胶水

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Podcast: 胶水

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AI Study Notes for 胶水

Quick Contrast

胶水 (glue) vs 粘合剂 (adhesive) — use 胶水 for general purpose bonding, while 粘合剂 is more technical or specialized.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a jellyfish (the '胶' in 胶水) swimming in water ('水'), representing the sticky nature of glue that can bind things together like a jellyfish's tentacles. The sound 'jiāo' resembles 'jelly', which is also sticky, helping you remember its meaning.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone when saying 胶水, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in overly academic discussions. Common collocations include '强力胶水' (strong glue) and '透明胶水' (clear glue).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 胶水 connects to other practical vocabulary related to everyday activities, such as tools and materials. Students should focus on using it in context, especially in sentences about DIY projects or repairs.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, crafting and DIY projects are significant, particularly during holidays like the Spring Festival, where families may engage in home decorations, often needing 胶水 for their projects.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 胶水 with another word for adhesive, 贴纸 (tiē zhǐ), which means sticker; the former is a liquid glue while the latter is a pre-adhesive material. Remember, 胶水 is used for bonding, not sticking like a sticker.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 胶水

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Component Characters

jiāoto glue
10 strokes
View full entry
shuǐwater
HSK 14 strokes
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Write 胶水

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

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Grammar Patterns of 胶水

胶水 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Complete the Sentence

我们可用____把这几张画粘贴在书里.

We can stick these pictures into the book with gum.

Example Sentences for 胶水 (4)

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1
我们可用胶水把这几张画粘贴在书里.

wǒ mén kě yòng jiāo shuǐ bǎ zhè jī zhāng huà nián tiē zài shū lǐ.

We can stick these pictures into the book with gum.
2
在表面涂上薄薄的一层胶水.

zài biǎo miàn tú shàng báo báo de yī céng jiāo shuǐ.

Apply a thin coating of glue to the surface.
3
他仔细地把每页涂上胶水.

tā zī xì dì bǎ měi yè tú shàng jiāo shuǐ.

He carefully glued each page.
4
用几滴胶水粘住。

yòng jī dī jiāo shuǐ nián zhù。

Secure with a few spots of glue.

Cultural Notes for 胶水

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, crafting and DIY projects are significant, particularly during holidays like the Spring Festival, where families may engage in home decorations, often needing 胶水 for their projects.

Frequently Asked Questions about 胶水

胶水 is versatile but may not work well on certain materials like heavy metals or high-density plastics. Always check the label for compatibility.