水 Stroke Order — How to Write 水
水 is written in 4 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 水, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
水 Radical and Character Components
Partial breakdown of 水:亅
水 is a pictograph. A river running between two banks; compare 川.
Radical: 水 + 0 more strokes
水 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- shuǐ
Meanings of 水 in Chinese
1
shuǐ水
A colorless, odorless, transparent liquid, essential for life and often used in various contexts like agriculture (e.g., rice cultivation) or in idioms describing persistence.
只要我们坚持不懈，就像水滴石穿一样，最终会成功。
As long as we persevere, just like water dripping through stone, we will eventually succeed.
Refers to a river or a body of water, often appearing in names of rivers, such as the Han River (汉水) or Xiang River (湘水).
这条水流向大海。
This river flows into the ocean.
A general term for bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and seas; also refers to water resources, reservoirs, and is used in idioms related to water.
我家乡依山傍水，风景优美。
My hometown is nestled among mountains and by water, offering beautiful scenery.
Liquid or juice; often refers to liquids like ink.
我的水笔没墨水了。
My fountain pen is out of ink.
Refers to additional charges or extra, often unofficial, income or gains.
这份兼职收入虽然不高，但总能捞点儿外水补贴家用。
Although the income from this part-time job isn't high, I can always earn some extra money to supplement our household expenses.
Refers to the number of times something has been washed or rinsed.
这件衬衫洗了三水，终于干净了。
This shirt has been washed three times; it's finally clean.
Common Words and Phrases with 水
1
A dam is a barrier built across a river or waterway to hold back water, typically forming a reservoir.
这座巨大的水坝不仅提供了清洁能源，还为周围的农田提供了灌溉水源。
This massive dam not only provides clean energy but also supplies irrigation water for the surrounding farmland.
2
a local despot who controls water resources or facilities to extort money from people
那个村子里的水霸，长期以来控制着村民的用水，让他们苦不堪言。
The water tyrant in that village has long controlled the villagers' water supply, causing them great hardship.
3
A device that moves water by mechanical action, typically used to pump water from one place to another or to increase its pressure.
为了节约用水，我们安装了一个高效的水泵，将雨水收集起来用于浇灌花园。
To save water, we installed an efficient water pump to collect rainwater for watering the garden.
4
A writing brush (especially for calligraphy or watercolor) or a fountain pen.
我喜欢用这支水笔写字，墨水流动得很顺畅。
I like writing with this fountain pen; the ink flows very smoothly.
5
A water meter is an instrument used to measure the volume of water passing through a pipeline or outlet.
抄水表的工作人员每月都会来记录读数。
The water meter reader comes every month to record the readings.
6
waterside; bank; shore
夕阳西下时，许多人选择在水滨散步，享受宁静的傍晚。
When the sun sets, many people choose to walk by the waterside, enjoying the peaceful evening.
7
8
water wave; ripples of water
微风轻拂湖面，泛起层层美丽的水波
The gentle breeze brushed the lake's surface, creating beautiful layers of water ripples.
9
The water is calm and still, without any ripples or waves.
清晨的湖面水波不兴，如一面巨大的镜子，清晰地映照着周围的一切。
The lake surface in the early morning was still, like a giant mirror, clearly reflecting everything around it.
10
Watercolor; a type of painting pigment.
她喜欢用鲜艳的水彩画花和风景。
She likes to paint flowers and landscapes with vibrant watercolors.
11
A painting created using watercolors.
她擅长画水彩画，作品色彩鲜明
She is skilled at painting watercolors, and her works feature vibrant colors.
12
A sump, the part of a mine extending below the main working level for drainage.
矿工们定期检查水仓的排水系统，以确保矿井的安全运行。
Miners regularly inspect the mine sump's drainage system to ensure the safe operation of the mine.
13
14
Glisteningly wet.
她刚洗完头发，长长的发丝水涔涔地披在肩上。
After washing her hair, her long strands were dripping wet, draped over her shoulders.
15
A layer of water, typically referring to strata formed by water in natural bodies based on depth.
科研人员正在研究湖泊中不同水层的温度和氧气含量，以了解其生态系统。
Researchers are studying the temperature and oxygen content of different water layers in the lake to understand its ecosystem.
More words with 水
- hóng洪shuǐ水flood
- jiāo浇shuǐ水To water plants or flowers.
- jiāo胶shuǐ水glue, adhesive
- lèi泪shuǐ水Tears; salty fluid from the eyes.
- quán泉shuǐ水spring water, spring
- cháo潮shuǐ水tide
- dàn淡shuǐ水fresh water
- fèi废shuǐ水wastewater, sewage
- fèi沸shuǐ水boiling water
- lù露shuǐ水dew
- mò墨shuǐ水ink
- qì汽shuǐ水A carbonated, non-alcoholic drink.
- qián潜shuǐ水Diving; to go underwater.
- wū污shuǐ水wastewater, sewage
- xīn薪shui水salary, pay
- zhī汁shui水Juice
- ān氨shuǐ水aqueous ammonia, ammonia water
- cǎi踩shuǐ水tread water
- diē跌shuǐ水Drop, Water drop
- fù腹shuǐ水Ascites
Idioms with 水
- shuǐ水dào到qú渠chéng成When conditions are ripe, success will follow
- shuǐ水dào到yú鱼xíng行When conditions are ripe, success follows naturally
- shuǐ水dī滴shí石chuān穿Perseverance overcomes great difficulties
- shuǐ水dǐ底lāo捞zhēn针seek the impossible
- shuǐ水huǒ火wú无jiāo交clean and incorruptible in official dealings
- shuǐ水huǒ火wú无qíng情Water and fire are merciless
- shuǐ水huǒ火zhī之zhōng中in dire straits
- shuǐ水jīng晶dēng灯lóng笼highly discerning and perceptive person
- shuǐ水lái来tǔ土yǎn掩deal with problems as they arise
- shuǐ水luò落guī归cáo漕Things settle and return to normal
- shuǐ水luò落shí石chū出The truth will eventually come to light
- shuǐ水mǎn满jīn金shān山massive flood or overwhelming deluge
Recommended tools
Chinese Text Image Generator
Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
Open the tool →
Bingo Cards
Picture and word Bingo for your class
Open the tool →
Character Highlight Animator
Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
Open the tool →
Writing Worksheets
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →Questions about 水
What does 水 mean in Chinese?
水 (shuǐ) means “A colorless” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 水?
水 is pronounced shuǐ in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 水 have?
水 has 4 strokes.
How do you write 水?
水 is written in 4 strokes, starting from the radical 水. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 水?
The radical of 水 is 水, and 水 is a pictograph.
