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沉着 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
沉着chénzhuósteadyHSK 7, v, rank #14699, Hard
沉着chénzhuócalm and collectedHSK 7, v, rank #14699, Hard
沉着chénzhuónot nervousHSK 7, v, rank #14699, Hard
chénzhuó(chen2zhuo2) T2
  1. 1steady
  2. 2calm and collected
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March 24, 2026
沉着(沉著)chénzhuó(chen2zhuo2)

The term 沉着 (chen2 zhuo2) describes a state of being calm and composed, especially in challenging situations. It emphasizes the ability to remain steady and not become flustered, which is highly valued in both personal and professional contexts.

Frequency#14699DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being 沉着 is often associated with wisdom and maturity. It is a desirable quality in leaders and is frequently highlighted in traditional teachings about the importance of maintaining composure in adversity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a serene lake (沉) that remains undisturbed (着) even when a storm brews overhead. The calm surface represents a steady mind, keeping cool under pressure, just like the pronunciation 'chen' which sounds like 'calm' in English.

Meanings of 沉着

chénzhuó(chen2zhuo2)
1steady
2calm and collected
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 沉着

沉着Simplified
沉著Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#14699Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 沉着

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Podcast: 沉着

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AI Study Notes for 沉着

Quick Contrast

冷静 (lěngjìng) — use 沉着 (chénzhuó) when emphasizing composure under pressure, while 冷静 (lěngjìng) focuses more on a general state of calmness.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a serene lake (沉) that remains undisturbed (着) even when a storm brews overhead. The calm surface represents a steady mind, keeping cool under pressure, just like the pronunciation 'chen' which sounds like 'calm' in English.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include using 沉着 in overly informal contexts, as it is more suited for formal situations. Learners might confuse it with words like 放松 (fang4 song1), which means relaxed, but 沉着 specifically emphasizes steadiness amidst pressure.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 沉着 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to emotional states and decision-making. Focus on using it in scenarios that require describing reactions to stressful situations, practicing both its pronunciation and context.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being 沉着 is often associated with wisdom and maturity. It is a desirable quality in leaders and is frequently highlighted in traditional teachings about the importance of maintaining composure in adversity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 沉着 with the word 激动 (ji1 dong4), which means excited. For example, saying '我在考试时感到沉着' (I felt excited during the exam) is incorrect; the correct term would be '冷静' (calm).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 沉着

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Component Characters

沉chénto submerge
HSK 57 strokes氵
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着zheaspect particle indicating action in progress
HSK 211 strokes目
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Write 沉着

沉
着

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

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Grammar Patterns of 沉着

沉着 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 3 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 4

Complete the Sentence

乔治·弗雷泽显然是个好士兵，____冷静且适应力强。

George Fraser was clearly a good soldier, calm and resilient.

Example Sentences for 沉着 (10)

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1
乔治·弗雷泽显然是个好士兵，沉着冷静且适应力强。

qiáo zhì· · fú léi zé xiǎn rán shì gè hǎo shì， bīng ， chén zháo lěng jìng qiě shì yīng。

George Fraser was clearly a good soldier, calm and resilient.
2
显然，她是全家口才最好、最沉着冷静的人。

xiǎn rán， ， tā shì quán jiā kǒu cái zuì、 hǎo 、 zuì chén zháo lěng jìng。

She is clearly the most articulate and self-possessed member of her family.
3
她是个非常沉着的人。没什么能让她惊慌的。

tā shì gè fēi cháng chén zháo de rén。 。 méi shí mó néng ràng tā jīng huāng。

She was a very calm person. Nothing could fluster her.
4
每个人都必须冷静沉着地仔细考虑这一情况。

měi gè rén dū bì xū lěng jìng chén zháo dì zī xì kǎo lǜ zhè yī qíng kuàng。

Everyone must think this situation through calmly and coolly.
5
“好吧，请继续，”卡米拉用很沉着的语气说道。

“ “ hǎo， bā ， qǐng，” jì xù ，” kǎ mǐ lā yòng hěn chén zháo de yǔ。

"Well, go on," said Camilla, her voice fairly steady.
6
她以沉着冷静著称。

tā yǐ chén zháo lěng jìng zhù chēng。

She has a reputation for being calm and cool-headed.
7
她冲他阴沉着脸。

tā chōng tā yīn chén zháo liǎn。

She made a sour face in his direction.
8
蕾切尔看上去沉着冷静。

lěi qiē ěr kàn shàng qù chén zháo lěng jìng。

Rachel appeared poised and calm.
9
安妮处乱不惊，十分冷静沉着。

ān nī chǔ luàn bù jīng， ， shí fēn lěng jìng chén。

Anne had remained unruffled, very cool and controlled.
10
他们划起桨来从容沉着,可以这样划一天.

tā mén huá qǐ jiǎng lái cóng róng chén zháo, , kě yǐ zhè yàng huá yī.

They rowed with a steady stroke that was to last all day.

Cultural Notes for 沉着

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being 沉着 is often associated with wisdom and maturity. It is a desirable quality in leaders and is frequently highlighted in traditional teachings about the importance of maintaining composure in adversity.

Frequently Asked Questions about 沉着

You can say '在危机时刻，他表现得非常沉着,' which means 'In a crisis, he remained very calm and composed.'