滑 (huá) - Slippery, smooth & to slip, to slide

滑Tone 2

huá ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

滑 · huá

Slippery, smooth;

to slip, to slide;

cunning, slick;

a surname.

Slippery, smoothto slip, to slidecunning, slick

Usage highlights

SlipperyTo slideSmoothSkatingSly personLandslide

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The floor is very slippery (地板很滑).
  • He slipped on the ice (他在冰上滑倒了).
  • This is a smooth stone (这是一块光滑的石头).
  • The salesman is very slick (那个销售员很滑头).

Collocations

  • Slippery(滑的)
  • To slide(滑动)
  • Smooth(光滑)
  • Skating(滑冰)
  • Sly person(滑头)
  • Landslide(滑坡)

Idioms

  • Slippery as an eel(滑如泥鳅)
  • Smooth sailing(一帆风顺)
  • Cunning and untrustworthy(油嘴滑舌)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character combines the water radical (氵) with the phonetic component 骨 (gǔ), suggesting a surface over which things flow or slide.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, 'slipperiness' can have a negative connotation, implying a lack of reliability or honesty in a person's character.
  • It is also used positively in contexts related to smoothness, ease, and fluid motion, such as in skating or calligraphy.

FAQ