How to Write 泉 (quán) — Meaning “Spring (water); fountain”

Picture a white (白) fountain of water (水) shooting up from the ground — that's a spring! The white color reminds you the water is clean and pure, like spring water.

Write the top part 白 first (left vertical, horizontal, horizontal, vertical, then bottom horizontal), then the bottom 水 (write the center vertical hook last). A common mistake is making the top 白 too wide — keep it narrow so the whole character balances.

泉 (quán) has 白 on top and 水 below, meaning spring water. 汞 (gǒng) has 水 on top and 工 below, meaning mercury (a metal). 沓 (tà) has 水 on top and 曰 below, meaning many or repetitive — note the bottom is 曰 (sun/speak), not 白.

泉 is common in words like 泉水 (spring water), 温泉 (hot spring), and 喷泉 (fountain). In Chinese culture, hot springs (温泉) are popular for relaxation and health, and you'll see 泉 in place names for scenic spots with natural springs.

Common words containing 泉 include: 泉水 (quán shuǐ) — Spring water; 温泉 (wēn quán) — Hot spring; 喷泉 (pēn quán) — fountain.