Word

水 (shuǐ) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 1

Meaning of 水

名 míng noun

water

他给我一杯水。

tā gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ

He gave me a glass of water.

Word breakdown

水 shuǐ — water

1 水果 shuǐ guǒ — fruit HSK 1
- 水 water; indicates the juicy, watery nature
- 果 fruit; the core meaning of edible fruit
Example

我喜欢吃水果。

wǒ xǐ huan chī shuǐ guǒ

I like to eat fruit.
2 水平 shuǐ píng — level HSK 3
- 水 water (representing the naturally flat surface of water)
- 平 flat, level, even (reinforcing the concept of levelness)
Example

他的汉语水平很高。

tā de hàn yǔ shuǐ píng hěn gāo

His Chinese level is very high.
3 矿泉水 kuàng quán shuǐ — mineral water HSK 3
- 矿 mineral, ore
- 泉 spring, natural source
- 水 water
Example

我想买一瓶矿泉水。

wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì píng kuàng quán shuǐ

I want to buy a bottle of mineral water.
4 汽水 qì shuǐ — soda HSK 4
- 汽 gas/carbonation (the fizzy component)
- 水 water (the liquid base)
Example

我想喝一瓶汽水。

wǒ xiǎng hē yī píng qì shuǐ

I want to drink a bottle of soda.
5 开水 kāi shuǐ — boiled water HSK 5
- 开 boiled, to boil (refers to heating water until it boils)
- 水 water (the substance being boiled)
Example

请给我一杯开水。

qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi kāi shuǐ

Please give me a cup of boiled water.

Show more (+45)

6 水分 shuǐ fèn — moisture HSK 5
- 水 water
- 分 content, portion
Example

这种水果含有丰富的水分。

zhè zhǒng shuǐ guǒ hán yǒu fēng fù de shuǐ fèn

This kind of fruit contains abundant moisture.
7 汗水 hàn shuǐ — sweat HSK 5
- 汗 sweat, perspiration
- 水 water, liquid (emphasizes the fluid nature)
Example

运动员的汗水湿透了衣服。

yùn dòng yuán de hàn shuǐ shī tòu le yī fu

The athlete's sweat soaked through the clothes.
8 泪水 lèi shuǐ — tears HSK 5
- 泪 tears (from crying)
- 水 water (emphasizing the liquid nature)
Example

母亲擦去孩子脸上的泪水。

mǔ qin cā qù hái zi liǎn shang de lèi shuǐ

The mother wiped away the tears from the child's face.
9 降水 jiàng shuǐ — precipitation HSK 5
- 降 to descend, to fall
- 水 water
Example

气象台预报明天会有降水。

qì xiàng tái yù bào míng tiān huì yǒu jiàng shuǐ

The weather station forecasts precipitation tomorrow.
10 雨水 yǔ shuǐ — rainwater HSK 5
- 雨 rain (source of the water)
- 水 water (the substance itself)
Example

我们收集雨水来浇花。

wǒ men shōu jí yǔ shuǐ lái jiāo huā

We collect rainwater to water the flowers.
11 水库 shuǐ kù — reservoir HSK 6
- 水 water
- 库 storage, repository
Example

这个水库为城市提供饮用水。

zhè ge shuǐ kù wèi chéng shì tí gōng yǐn yòng shuǐ

This reservoir provides drinking water for the city.
12 水泥 shuǐ ní — cement HSK 6
- 水 water; liquid component
- 泥 mud; paste-like consistency
Example

工人们正在搅拌水泥。

gōng rén men zhèng zài jiǎo bàn shuǐ ní

The workers are mixing cement.
13 水流 shuǐ liú — water flow HSK 6
- 水 water (the substance that is flowing)
- 流 flow (the movement or current)
Example

河里的水流很急。

hé lǐ de shuǐ liú hěn jí

The water flow in the river is very rapid.
14 水稻 shuǐ dào — rice HSK 6
- 水 water (indicates rice grown in flooded paddies)
- 稻 rice plant
Example

中国南方种植很多水稻。

Zhōng guó nán fāng zhòng zhí hěn duō shuǐ dào

Southern China grows a lot of rice.
15 水面 shuǐ miàn — water surface HSK 6
- 水 water
- 面 surface
Example

月光反射在平静的水面上。

yuè guāng fǎn shè zài píng jìng de shuǐ miàn shàng

Moonlight reflects on the calm water surface.
16 污水 wū shuǐ — sewage HSK 6
- 污 polluted, dirty
- 水 water
Example

城市需要处理大量污水。

chéng shì xū yào chǔ lǐ dà liàng wū shuǐ

The city needs to treat large amounts of sewage.
17 洪水 hóng shuǐ — flood HSK 6
- 洪 vast, great flood
- 水 water
Example

洪水冲毁了许多房屋和桥梁。

hóng shuǐ chōng huǐ le xǔ duō fáng wū hé qiáo liáng

The flood destroyed many houses and bridges.
18 热水器 rè shuǐ qì — water heater HSK 6
- 热 hot, heat (indicates the heating function)
- 水 water (indicates what is being heated)
- 器 device, appliance (indicates it is a tool or machine)
Example

我家的热水器坏了。

wǒ jiā de rè shuǐ qì huài le

Our water heater broke.
19 胶水 jiāo shuǐ — glue HSK 6
- 胶 glue, adhesive
- 水 liquid (indicating the liquid form of glue)
Example

我需要胶水来粘贴这些照片。

wǒ xū yào jiāo shuǐ lái zhān tiē zhè xiē zhào piàn

I need glue to paste these photos.
20 自来水 zì lái shuǐ — tap water HSK 6
- 自 self, automatically
- 来 come, arrive
- 水 water
Example

这里的自来水很干净。

zhè lǐ de zì lái shuǐ hěn gān jìng

The tap water here is very clean.
21 薪水 xīn shuǐ — salary HSK 6
- 薪 wages, payment (originally firewood)
- 水 money, payment (metaphorical: flows like water)
Example

他的薪水很高。

tā de xīn shuǐ hěn gāo

His salary is very high.
22 跳水 tiào shuǐ — diving HSK 6
- 跳 to jump, to leap
- 水 water
Example

她是跳水运动员。

tā shì tiào shuǐ yùn dòng yuán

She is a diving athlete.
23 酒水 jiǔ shuǐ — alcoholic beverages HSK 6
- 酒 alcohol, wine, liquor
- 水 liquid, beverage (complementing 酒 to form 'alcoholic drinks')
Example

这家餐厅的酒水价格很贵。

zhè jiā cān tīng de jiǔ shuǐ jià gé hěn guì

The alcoholic beverages at this restaurant are very expensive.
24 饮用水 yǐn yòng shuǐ — drinking water HSK 6
- 饮 drinking, to drink
- 用 for use, usage
- 水 water
Example

我们需要保证饮用水的安全。

wǒ men xū yào bǎo zhèng yǐn yòng shuǐ de ān quán

We need to ensure the safety of drinking water.
25 香水 xiāng shuǐ — perfume HSK 6
- 香 fragrant, aromatic
- 水 water, liquid
Example

她喜欢用法国香水。

tā xǐ huan yòng fǎ guó xiāng shuǐ

She likes to use French perfume.
26 口水 kǒu shuǐ — saliva HSK 7
- 口 mouth (indicates the source)
- 水 water (indicates the liquid nature)
Example

看到美食就流口水。

kàn dào měi shí jiù liú kǒu shuǐ

One's mouth waters when seeing delicious food.
27 地下水 dì xià shuǐ — groundwater HSK 7
- 地 earth, ground
- 下 below, under, beneath
- 水 water
Example

我们需要保护地下水不受污染。

wǒ men xū yào bǎo hù dì xià shuǐ bù shòu wū rǎn

We need to protect groundwater from pollution.
28 墨水 mò shuǐ — ink HSK 7
- 墨 ink (the black pigment substance)
- 水 water (indicating liquid form)
Example

我需要买一瓶墨水。

wǒ xū yào mǎi yì píng mò shuǐ

I need to buy a bottle of ink.
29 放水 fàng shuǐ — to go easy on someone; to deliberately lose HSK 7
- 放 to release; to let go; to ease up
- 水 water; used metaphorically for leniency
Example

教练不会对任何队员放水。

jiào liàn bù huì duì rèn hé duì yuán fàng shuǐ

The coach won't go easy on any player.
30 水产 shuǐ chǎn — aquatic products HSK 7
- 水 water, aquatic
- 产 products, produce
Example

这个市场专门销售新鲜的水产。

zhè ge shì chǎng zhuān mén xiāo shòu xīn xiān de shuǐ chǎn

This market specializes in selling fresh aquatic products.
31 水准 shuǐ zhǔn — level, standard HSK 7
- 水 water; contributes the concept of 'level' (from water level as a horizontal reference)
- 准 standard, accurate; contributes the sense of 'standard' or 'criterion'
Example

他的汉语水准很高。

tā de Hàn yǔ shuǐ zhǔn hěn gāo

His Chinese level is very high.
32 水利 shuǐ lì — water conservancy HSK 7
- 水 water
- 利 beneficial use, management
Example

政府投资建设水利工程。

zhèng fǔ tóu zī jiàn shè shuǐ lì gōng chéng

The government invests in building water conservancy projects.
33 水土 shuǐ tǔ — water and soil; natural environment HSK 7
- 水 water (representing water resources and climate)
- 土 soil/land (representing soil quality and terrain)
Example

他刚到这里，还不太适应当地的水土。

tā gāng dào zhè lǐ hái bù tài shì yìng dāng dì de shuǐ tǔ

He just arrived here and hasn't quite adapted to the local climate yet.
34 水域 shuǐ yù — waters HSK 7
- 水 water
- 域 area, region, territory
Example

这片水域禁止游泳。

zhè piàn shuǐ yù jìn zhǐ yóu yǒng

Swimming is prohibited in these waters.
35 水晶 shuǐ jīng — crystal HSK 7
- 水 water (representing clarity and transparency)
- 晶 crystal (crystalline structure, brilliance)
Example

这个水晶花瓶非常漂亮。

zhè ge shuǐ jīng huā píng fēi cháng piào liang

This crystal vase is very beautiful.
36 水汽 shuǐ qì — water vapor HSK 7
- 水 water
- 汽 vapor
Example

早晨的空气中充满了水汽。

zǎo chén de kōng qì zhōng chōng mǎn le shuǐ qì

The morning air is filled with water vapor.
37 水涨船高 shuǐ zhǎng chuán gāo — when the water rises, the boat floats higher; things improve in tandem HSK 7
- 水 water; represents the base condition or underlying factor
- 涨 to rise, to increase; indicates the upward movement or growth
- 船 boat; represents the dependent or affected element
- 高 high, tall; indicates the resulting elevated position or increase
Example

房价上涨，租金也水涨船高。

fáng jià shàng zhǎng zū jīn yě shuǐ zhǎng chuán gāo

When housing prices rise, rent also increases accordingly.
38 水源 shuǐ yuán — water source HSK 7
- 水 water
- 源 source, origin
Example

这个村庄的水源很干净。

zhè ge cūn zhuāng de shuǐ yuán hěn gān jìng

This village's water source is very clean.
39 水滴石穿 shuǐ dī shí chuān — constant dripping wears away stone HSK 7
- 水 water - the persistent force
- 滴 drip - small, repeated action
- 石 stone - the hard obstacle
- 穿 penetrate - eventual breakthrough
Example

只要坚持不懈，水滴石穿，你一定能成功。

zhǐ yào jiān chí bù xiè shuǐ dī shí chuān nǐ yí dìng néng chéng gōng

As long as you persevere, constant dripping wears away stone, you will definitely succeed.
40 水落石出 shuǐ luò shí chū — the truth comes to light HSK 7
- 水 water (that recedes)
- 落 fall, recede, drop
- 石 stone, rock (that was hidden)
- 出 come out, appear, emerge
Example

经过调查，案件的真相终于水落石出了。

jīng guò diào chá àn jiàn de zhēn xiàng zhōng yú shuǐ luò shí chū le

After the investigation, the truth of the case finally came to light.
41 水龙头 shuǐ lóng tóu — faucet HSK 7
- 水 water
- 龙 dragon (metaphor for flowing water)
- 头 head, spout (the outlet)
Example

他打开水龙头洗手。

tā dǎ kāi shuǐ lóng tóu xǐ shǒu

He turned on the faucet to wash his hands.
42 泼冷水 pō lěng shuǐ — pour cold water on HSK 7
- 泼 to splash, to pour
- 冷 cold
- 水 water
Example

她的想法很好，你不要泼冷水。

tā de xiǎng fǎ hěn hǎo nǐ bù yào pō lěng shuǐ

Her idea is good, don't pour cold water on it.
43 流水 liú shuǐ — flowing water HSK 7
- 流 flowing, to flow
- 水 water
Example

小溪里的流水清澈见底。

xiǎo xī lǐ de liú shuǐ qīng chè jiàn dǐ

The flowing water in the stream is crystal clear down to the bottom.
44 淡水 dàn shuǐ — freshwater HSK 7
- 淡 light, bland, not salty
- 水 water
Example

淡水比海水更适合饮用。

dàn shuǐ bǐ hǎi shuǐ gèng shì hé yǐn yòng

Freshwater is more suitable for drinking than seawater.
45 溺水 nì shuǐ — to drown HSK 7
- 溺 to drown, to be submerged
- 水 water
Example

他在游泳时差点溺水。

tā zài yóu yǒng shí chà diǎn nì shuǐ

He almost drowned while swimming.
46 潜水 qián shuǐ — dive HSK 7
- 潜 submerge, dive beneath the surface
- 水 water, the medium for diving
Example

他喜欢在海里潜水。

tā xǐ huan zài hǎi lǐ qián shuǐ

He likes to dive in the sea.
47 潮水 cháo shuǐ — tide HSK 7
- 潮 tide; refers to the regular rise and fall of ocean waters
- 水 water; refers to the ocean water that rises and falls with the tide
Example

潮水退去后，海滩上露出了许多贝壳。

cháo shuǐ tuì qù hòu hǎi tān shàng lù chū le xǔ duō bèi ké

After the tide receded, many shells appeared on the beach.
48 缩水 suō shuǐ — to shrink HSK 7
- 缩 to shrink, to contract
- 水 water (indicating shrinkage from washing)
Example

这件毛衣洗了之后缩水了。

zhè jiàn máo yī xǐ le zhī hòu suō shuǐ le

This sweater shrank after washing.
49 萍水相逢 píng shuǐ xiāng féng — to meet by chance HSK 7
- 萍 duckweed (floating plant, symbolizes transience)
- 水 water (the vast world where chance meetings occur)
- 相 mutually, each other (indicates reciprocal meeting)
- 逢 to meet, to encounter
Example

虽然我们萍水相逢，但我会记住这次相遇。

suī rán wǒ men píng shuǐ xiāng féng dàn wǒ huì jì zhù zhè cì xiāng yù

Although we met by chance, I will remember this encounter.
50 风水 fēng shuǐ — feng shui HSK 7
- 风 wind, representing flowing energy and environmental forces
- 水 water, representing flow, vital essence, and life force
Example

这个房子的风水很好。

zhè ge fáng zi de fēng shuǐ hěn hǎo

The feng shui of this house is very good.