泻 meaning and stroke order
To flow out swiftly; to flood; a torrent
How to write 泻, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Meaning of 泻
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to flow out swiftly
- to flood
- a torrent
- diarrhea
- laxative
How 泻 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Water.
氵 gives the meaning and 写 hints at the sound.
Radical: 氵 (water), shared by 467 characters on this site.
How to remember 泻
The water radical 氵 sits next to 写 (xiě, to write), which gives the sound. Picture ink pouring out of a pen like water rushing out, and you have 泻 (xiè), to flow out fast.
泻 describes water or liquid pouring out quickly, and in daily life it most often appears in medical words like 腹泻 (fùxiè, diarrhea) and 泻药 (xièyào, laxative). Example: 他吃坏了肚子，一直腹泻。(Tā chī huài le dùzi, yīzhí fùxiè.) He ate something bad and keeps having diarrhea.
Common mistake: Learners often write 写 (xiě) when they mean 泻 (xiè), or the reverse, because the shapes and sounds are so close. Remember that 泻 has the water radical 氵 and a fourth tone, while 写 has no water and a third tone.
Common words with 泻
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
泻 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 泻
How many strokes are in 泻?
泻 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 泻 mean?
泻 (xiè) means to flow out swiftly; to flood; a torrent. A common word with it is 腹泻 (fùxiè), meaning "diarrhea; to have the runs".
How do you pronounce 泻?
泻 is pronounced xiè, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 泻?
The radical of 泻 is 氵, which carries the idea of "water". Dictionaries list 泻 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 泻?
The traditional form of 泻 is 瀉. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 泻 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 泻 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 泻 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the everyday way to say diarrhea in Chinese?
In casual speech people usually say 拉肚子 (lā dùzi). 腹泻 (fùxiè) is the more formal or medical word you see at a doctor or on medicine labels.
How is 泻 different from 漏 (lòu), which also means to leak?
漏 (lòu) is a slow leak through a hole or crack, like a leaking roof. 泻 (xiè) is a fast, strong outpouring, like a waterfall or 一泻千里 (yī xiè qiān lǐ), a river rushing a thousand miles.