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流水 (liú shuǐ) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

流水 (liú shuǐ) is a Chinese word: flowing water. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 流水

名 míng noun

flowing water

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.

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Word breakdown

流 liú — flowing, to flow

Words with this character (37)
Show more (+32)

水 shuǐ — water

Words with this character (49)
Show more (+44)
  • 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
    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
    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
    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 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.

  • 44 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.

  • 45 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.

  • 46 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.

  • 47 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.

  • 48 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.

  • 49 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.

Structure & writing
1 流 liú — to flow (of liquid)

流 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 氵 shuǐ — water radical (three drops)
氵 is a component in 170 characters
HSK 1
汉 hàn Han River (汉江), originating in southern Shaanxi, flowing into the Yangtze at Wuhan, Hubei 没 méi to not have; to lack 漂 piāo to float and drift on the surface of a liquid
HSK 2
泳 yǒng to swim, move through water 洗 xǐ to wash; to clean with water, gasoline, kerosene, etc. 游 yóu unfixed; constantly moving 酒 jiǔ alcoholic beverage made by fermenting grains or fruit
HSK 3
汽 qì gas or vapor formed by heating a liquid or certain solids 沙 shā sand; tiny stone particles 河 hé river (natural or artificial waterway) 法 fǎ law; the body of rules enacted or recognized by the state and enforced by state power, including statutes, decrees, regulations, orders, and decisions 注 zhù to pour into; to fill with liquid
Show more HSK 3 characters (+8)
活 huó to live; to be alive (opposite of '死') 海 hǎi sea; ocean area near land (also used for large lakes, e.g. 青海, 里海) 清 qīng pure and clear, free of impurities (opposite of '浊'); ① purely, solely; ② quiet 渴 kě to be thirsty 满 mǎn full; filled to capacity 演 yǎn to evolve; to change gradually 澡 zǎo to bathe, wash the whole body 激 jī to strike with water; to stir up emotions
HSK 4
染 rǎn to dye (an object with dye) 汁 zhī juice; liquid containing certain substances 汗 hàn sweat; perspiration secreted by the skin 江 jiāng a large river 污 wū murky water; filth; dirt
Show more HSK 4 characters (+13)
汤 tāng hot water; boiling water 油 yóu oil (liquid fat from animals or plants, or liquid hydrocarbon mixture from minerals) 泼 pō to splash or spill liquid forcefully 洋 yáng ocean (the vast body of salt water covering about 70% of Earth's surface, divided into four parts: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic Oceans) 洲 zhōu continent (one of the seven major landmasses of the earth) 流 liú to flow (of liquid) 济 jì cross a river; ford 浪 làng wave; billow on rivers, lakes, or seas 消 xiāo to gradually diminish until gone; to vanish 深 shēn deep (opposite of shallow) 温 wēn neither cold nor hot; lukewarm 漫 màn to overflow (water spilling over) 落 luò to fall; to drop down
HSK 5
汇 huì （of rivers）to converge 池 chí pond, esp. an artificially dug one 沉 chén to sink (in water, opposite of 'float') 沟 gōu artificially dug waterway or trench 治 zhì to govern; to manage; to administer
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沿 yán along (a river, road, or edge of something) 泛 fàn to float; to drift 泪 lèi tears; colorless liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands of the eye 洒 sǎ to sprinkle or scatter water or other things on the ground 洞 dòng cave; hole; hollow or deep recess in an object 浅 qiǎn shallow (opposite of 'deep') 浇 jiāo to pour liquid onto something 测 cè to measure; to gauge using instruments or standards 浏 liú (lit.) clear and limpid (of water) 浓 nóng (of liquid or gas) thick; dense (opposite of 淡) 润 rùn to moisten; to add oil or water to prevent dryness 涨 zhǎng to rise (of water level) 淡 dàn dilute; thin (of liquid or gas, opposite of 浓) 渐 jiàn gradually; little by little 湖 hú lake (large body of water surrounded by land) 湿 shī wet; damp; moist (opposite of 干) 源 yuán source of water, where a stream originates (opposite of 流) 滑 huá smooth; slippery (low friction) 滚 gǔn to roll; to tumble 漏 lòu to drip, seep, or fall through a hole or crack 漠 mò desert; arid sandy region 范 fàn (lit.) mold; model 薄 bó slight, little
HSK 6
梁 liáng beam; horizontal load-bearing timber or structural member 汰 tài to eliminate; to weed out the useless 沃 wò (of land) fertile, rich 泡 pào bubble (spherical or hemispherical body formed by gas in liquid) 泥 ní mud; mixture of soil and water
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洁 jié clean; pure; free of impurities 洪 hóng large; great 浮 fú to float on the surface of a liquid (opposite of '沉') 浴 yù to bathe; to take a bath 涉 shè to wade across water; to cross over water 涌 yǒng to gush; (of water) to bubble up; (of clouds) to rise 液 yè liquid; a fluid substance with definite volume but no fixed shape 涵 hán to contain; to encompass 淋 lín to drip or splash onto a surface 淘 táo to rinse (granular material) in water to remove impurities 混 hùn to mix (different things) together 淹 yān to submerge; to flood 添 tiān to add; to increase 渠 qú waterway, especially an artificially dug canal or ditch 渡 dù to cross (a river or body of water) 港 gǎng harbor or port where large ships can dock 滴 dī to drip (liquid falls drop by drop) 漱 shù to rinse the mouth with water 潜 qián to submerge; to dive underwater 潮 cháo tidal phenomenon; rise and fall of seawater due to the gravitational pull of the sun and moon
HSK 7
汛 xùn seasonal rise of water in a river; flood season 汪 wāng (lit.) deep and vast (of water) 汲 jí to draw water (from a well) 汹 xiōng surging water churning upward 沏 qī to brew; to steep (with boiling water)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+74)
沐 mù to wash one's hair; to bathe, wash 沛 pèi (lit.) abundant; copious; vigorous 沧 cāng dark green (of water) 沫 mò foam; froth (tiny bubbles formed by a liquid) 沮 jǔ to stop; to obstruct 沸 fèi to boil (of a liquid heated to the point of rapid vaporization) 沼 zhǎo natural pond; marsh 沾 zhān to soak; to moisten 泄 xiè (of liquid or gas) to discharge, to leak out 泊 bó to moor a boat; to dock 泌 mì to secrete (a substance from a living organism) 泞 nìng (lit.) accumulated mud; mire 波 bō waves on the surface of water (rivers, lakes, seas, etc.) 泣 qì to weep silently or softly 泻 xiè to flow down rapidly (of liquid) 津 jīn ford; river crossing 洽 qià harmonious; in accord 浊 zhuó (of water, air, etc.) murky, impure, turbid — opposite of 清 浑 hún murky; turbid (of water) 浩 hào vast, grand, magnificent 浸 jìn to soak in liquid; to steep 涂 tú to apply (paint, ointment, etc.) by spreading or brushing onto a surface 涕 tì tears 涛 tāo large waves 涝 lào waterlogged (of crops flooded by excessive rain, opposite of 旱) 涡 wō whirlpool; eddy formed by rotating water 涤 dí to wash 涩 sè rough; not smooth (high friction) 涮 shuàn to swish in water to rinse lightly 涯 yá water's edge; shore; boundary 淀 diàn shallow lake (used in place names) 淆 xiáo confused, mixed up, disordered 淌 tǎng （of liquid）to flow down, to trickle 淤 yū to silt up; to become clogged with sediment 淳 chún a surname 渔 yú to fish; to catch fish 渗 shèn to seep; to permeate slowly 渣 zhā residue left after extracting the essence or juice 渺 miǎo vast and boundless (of water) 湃 pài used in '澎湃': ① waves crashing loudly against each other; ② (fig.) surging emotions; ③ (fig.) grand and imposing momentum 湛 zhàn deep 湾 wān a bend or curve in a river 溃 kuì breach (of a dike by floodwater) 溅 jiàn (of liquid) to splash, to spatter 溉 gài (lit.) to irrigate; to water 溜 liū to glide; to slide (downward) 溢 yì to overflow; to brim over 溪 xī small stream or brook 溯 sù to go against the current 溶 róng to dissolve (a substance uniformly distributed in another to form a solution) 溺 nì to drown; to be submerged in water 滋 zī to grow, to sprout 滔 tāo floodwaters overflowing 滞 zhì to stagnate, accumulate, not flow freely 滤 lǜ to filter; to strain (liquid or gas through gauze, charcoal, sand, etc. to remove impurities) 滥 làn to overflow; to flood 滨 bīn waterside; place near water 滩 tān beach; shoal; sandbank (flat land formed by silt along rivers, lakes, or seas) 漆 qī general term for viscous coating materials (paint/lacquer) 漾 yàng ripple on the water surface 潇 xiāo (lit.) clear and deep (of water) 潦 liáo see "潦草": ① (handwriting) untidy; ② (work) careless, sloppy 潭 tán deep pool; deep pit; by extension: deep 澄 chéng clear and transparent (of water) 澈 chè clear and transparent (of water) 澎 péng used in "澎湖" (Penghu Islands, in the southeastern Taiwan Strait) 澜 lán large waves; billows 濒 bīn to border on (a body of water) 瀑 pù waterfall 瀚 hàn (lit.) vast; boundless 灌 guàn to irrigate; to water 茫 máng vast and boundless, indistinct 萍 píng duckweed; aquatic herb floating on water surface with flat oval leaves and hanging roots 衍 yǎn (lit.) to develop and elaborate; to extend and unfold
1.2 㐬 liú — hanging banner/tassel on a flag or crown
㐬 is a component in 3 characters
HSK 4
流 liú to flow (of liquid)
HSK 7
梳 shū comb (tool for tidying hair or beard, made of bamboo, wood, or plastic) 疏 shū sparse; wide apart (opposite of 密)

Stroke order

2 水 shuǐ — water (H₂O); colorless, odorless liquid
水 is a component in 7 characters
HSK 3
冰 bīng ice; solid water formed at or below 0°C 泉 quán spring water
HSK 5
暴 bào sudden and violent; fierce and swift 浆 jiāng thick liquid; paste 益 yì benefit, advantage (opposite of 害)
HSK 6
踏 tà to step on; to go to a place in person
HSK 7
尿 niào urine; liquid waste produced by the kidneys and excreted through the urethra

水 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order