沉 (chén) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 沉 (chén) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 沉 (chén) means "to sink; heavy; deep". It is an HSK Level 4 character, with 7 strokes and the radical 氵.

Q: How do you write 沉 stroke by stroke?

沉 has 7 strokes. The radical is 氵. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 沉 and 㳄?

沉 (chén) and 㳄 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 沉?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 氵. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 沉?

Common words containing 沉 include: 沉重 (chén zhòng) — heavy; serious; burdensome; 沉思 (chén sī) — to ponder; to meditate; deep thought; 下沉 (xià chén) — to sink; to submerge.

How to Write 沉

The character 沉 (chén) is written with 7 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 氵 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

沉 is pronounced chén in Mandarin Chinese. It means to sink; heavy; deep.

As an HSK Level 4 character, 沉 is an intermediate-level character.

Common Words with 沉

沉重 chén zhòng

heavy; serious; burdensome

沉思 chén sī

to ponder; to meditate; deep thought

下沉 xià chén

to sink; to submerge

Example Sentences

这个箱子很沉重。

zhè ge xiāng zi hěn chén zhòng

This box is very heavy.

他在沉思一个问题。

tā zài chén sī yí gè wèn tí

He is contemplating a problem.

石头在水里下沉。

shí tou zài shuǐ lǐ xià chén

The stone sinks in the water.

Similar Characters

㳄 xián

氿 guǐ

汀 tīng

Practice Writing 沉 (chén)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 沉 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 沉

What does 沉 (chén) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 沉 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 沉 and 㳄?

What mistakes do learners make writing 沉?

What common words use 沉?

How to Write 沉 (chén)