Chinese characters can often be broken up into smaller pieces, or “radicals.” These radicals can
give clues to a word’s meaning and pronunciation. One of the easiest radicals to spot in Chinese is
三点水 (sān diǎn shuǐ), or the water radical. If you encounter this radical on the left side of a
character, you can be almost certain that the character has something to do with water or liquid.
Here are some common characters that use 三点水:
1. 汤 (tāng)
汤 (tāng) = soup / hot or boiling water / decoction of medicinal herbs
2. 汗 (hàn)
汗 (hàn) = perspiration / sweat
Example: 我跑完步后出了很多汗。 (Wǒ pǎo wán bù hòu chū le hěnduō hàn) = I am very
sweaty after I run.
3. 油 (yóu)
油 (yóu) = oil / fat / grease / petroleum
Example: 他做菜时忘记放油了。 (Tā zuò cài shí wàngjì fàng yóule) = He forgot to add
oil when he was cooking.
4. 河 (hé)
河 (hé) = river
5. 泪 (lèi)
泪 (lèi) = tears
6. 洗 (xǐ)
洗 (xǐ) = to wash / to bathe
7. 湖 (hú) = lake
湖 (hú) = lake
Example: 湖边的景色很美。(hú biān de jǐngsè hěn měi) = The view beside the lake is
very beautiful.
8. 渴 (kě)
渴 (kě) = thirsty
9. 滑 (huá)
滑 (huá) = to slip / to slide / smooth / slippery
10. 海 (hǎi)
海 (hǎi)= ocean / sea
Example: 深海里有许多神秘的生物。 (Shēnhǎi li yǒu xǔduō shénmì de shēngwù) =
There are many mysterious creatures in the deep sea.