瀉 (xiè) - to flow out rapidly & to drain

瀉Tone 4

xiè ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

瀉 · xiè

to flow out rapidly;

to drain;

to have diarrhea;

to pour out;

to vent;

to leak out

to flow out rapidlyto drainto have diarrhea

Usage highlights

diarrheato drain awaycathartic medicineto vent angerrapid flowto pour out one's heart

Synonyms

  • 泄— to leak, to discharge (similar meaning but less forceful)
  • 流— to flow (more general term)
  • 排— to discharge, to drain

Antonyms

  • 堵— to block, to stop up
  • 蓄— to store, to accumulate
  • 塞— to plug, to clog

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The water drained quickly from the tank (水从水箱泻出).
  • He has diarrhea (他腹泻).
  • The river flows into the sea (河流泻入大海).
  • She vented her anger (她发泄愤怒).

Collocations

  • diarrhea(腹泻)
  • to drain away(泻下)
  • cathartic medicine(泻药)
  • to vent anger(泻愤)
  • rapid flow(奔泻)
  • to pour out one's heart(倾泻)

Idioms

  • Flowing water cannot rot(流水不腐，户枢不蠹 - often used with similar meaning)
  • One diarrhea stops a thousand doctors(一泻止千医 - metaphorical)
  • Rushing down for three thousand feet(飞流直下三千尺 - describing waterfall)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, '泻' refers to purgative therapy to remove excess or pathogenic factors from the body.
  • The character appears in geographical names describing rapidly flowing water or downward slopes.
  • In calligraphy, strokes described as '泻' suggest flowing, unrestrained movement.

FAQ