瀉 meaning and stroke order
To leak; diarrhea
How to write 瀉, stroke by stroke
18 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 瀉
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to flow out swiftly
- to flood
- a torrent
- diarrhea
- laxative
How 瀉 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Water.
氵 gives the meaning and 寫 hints at the sound.
Radical: 氵 (water), shared by 467 characters on this site.
How to remember 瀉
瀉 combines the water radical 氵 with 寫 (xiě, to write), which gives the sound. Picture water pouring out as fast as a pen racing across paper.
瀉 (xiè) describes liquid rushing or pouring out, and it is common in medical words for diarrhea and laxatives. Mainland China uses the simplified form 泻. Example: 我昨天腹瀉了。(Wǒ zuótiān fùxiè le.) I had diarrhea yesterday.
Common mistake: Learners often read 瀉 as xiě because of its phonetic part 寫, but 瀉 is fourth tone, xiè. Also do not confuse it with 洩 (xiè, to leak or let out, as in 洩露 xièlòu), which is used for secrets and gas rather than diarrhea.
Common words with 瀉
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
Questions about 瀉
How many strokes are in 瀉?
瀉 is written with 18 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 瀉 mean?
瀉 (xiè) means to leak; diarrhea. A common word with it is 腹泻 (fùxiè), meaning "diarrhea; to have the runs".
How do you pronounce 瀉?
瀉 is pronounced xiè, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 瀉?
The radical of 瀉 is 氵, which carries the idea of "water". Dictionaries list 瀉 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 瀉?
瀉 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 泻, used in mainland China and Singapore.
How do I say I have diarrhea in Chinese?
The most common way is 我拉肚子了 (wǒ lā dùzi le), which is casual. 腹瀉 (fùxiè) is the more formal or medical word you will hear from a doctor or see on medicine labels.
Can 瀉 be used for things other than water or illness?
Yes. It can describe light, sound, or emotion pouring out, as in 月光傾瀉 (yuèguāng qīngxiè), moonlight flooding down. In this sense it suggests a strong, unstoppable flow.