沖 (chōng) - to rinse, to wash away & to pour

沖Tone 1

chōng ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 氵

橙丁

沖 · chōng

to rinse, to wash away;

to pour;

to infuse;

to dash against;

to soar;

to rise up;

young;

empty;

used in names and place names.

to rinse, to wash awayto pourto infuse

Usage highlights

rinseflushdash againstpour boiling watersoar into the skycharge forward

Synonyms

  • 洗— to wash
  • 刷— to brush, to scrub
  • 涌— to surge, to gush

Antonyms

  • 堵— to block, to stop
  • 滞— stagnant

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Rinse the cup with hot water (用热水沖洗杯子).
  • The waves dash against the rocks (海浪沖击着岩石).
  • Make tea by pouring boiling water (用开水沖茶).
  • The eagle soars into the sky (鹰沖向天空).

Collocations

  • rinse(沖洗)
  • flush(沖刷)
  • dash against(沖击)
  • pour boiling water(沖泡)
  • soar into the sky(沖天)
  • charge forward(沖锋)

Idioms

  • Soaring ambition(志沖云霄)
  • Charge forward bravely(勇往直沖)
  • Rise straight up(一飞沖天)
  • Flush away with water(大水沖了龙王庙)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese thought, '沖' embodies the concept of harmony through emptiness and potential, as in Daoist philosophy where '沖' can mean 'empty' or 'void', yet full of potential.
  • Used in naming to imply vigor, forward momentum, and rising potential, often chosen for its dynamic and positive connotations.
  • Appears in significant place names like Okinawa (沖绳), historically part of the Ryukyu Kingdom with close ties to China.

FAQ