How to Write 冲 (chōng/chòng) — Meaning “to rush; to flush; to rinse”

Picture a frozen river (冫) that suddenly breaks in the middle (中), causing water to rush and surge forward. This "ice cracking in the center" image helps you recall 冲 means "to rush" or "to flush."

The left radical 冫 is written with two dots — first a shorter dot, then a longer, angled dot — and it should sit slightly higher than the right side. On the right, write 中 with the vertical stroke going through the middle of the box; make sure the vertical line is straight and extends a bit below the box.

冲 has 中 (middle) on the right, meaning "to rush," while 冯 (féng) has 马 (horse) on the right and is a surname with no water meaning. 冰 (bīng) has 水 (water) on the right and means "ice" — note that 冰 uses the same left radical 冫 but a different right side.

冲 appears in everyday contexts like 冲水 (chōng shuǐ, "to flush water") for toilets or rinsing, and 冲刺 (chōng cì, "sprint") for a final burst of speed in sports. It can also describe emotional impulses, such as 冲动 (chōng dòng, "impulsive"), which is useful for learners to express strong reactions.

Common words containing 冲 include: 冲刺 (chōng cì) — Sprint / Dash; 冲水 (chōng shuǐ) — to flush with water; 冲床 (chòng chuáng) — Punch press.