How to Write 瀹 (yuè) — Meaning “to soak; to boil; to brew (tea)”

Imagine pouring water (氵) into a flute-shaped teapot (龠) to brew a perfect cup of tea. The flute represents the elegant, ceremonial aspect of brewing, and the water soaking in reminds you of the character's meaning. This visual of 'water + flute = tea brewing' can help fix 瀹 in your memory.

瀹 has 20 strokes, so pay special attention to balance: the water radical on the left should be narrow, while the right side with its multiple short horizontal strokes (like in 龠) must be evenly spaced. A common mistake is making the left and right halves too wide or squishing the inner parts of 龠 — keep each section compact but clear.

瀹 (yuè) specifically means to brew or soak with water, often for tea, while 瀑 (pù) means waterfall and 瀚 (hàn) means vast or expansive (as in a desert). Visually, 瀹 has the complex right side 龠, whereas 瀑 has 暴 on the right and 瀚 has 翰 on the right. Their meanings and components are quite different despite sharing the water radical.

瀹 is mostly used in formal or literary contexts about tea brewing, such as 瀹茶 (yuè chá) or 瀹茗 (yuè míng). It carries a refined, classical feel — you might see it in tea ceremony descriptions or poetry rather than everyday conversation. The act of 瀹茶 emphasizes the careful, ritualistic preparation of tea, reflecting traditional Chinese tea culture.

Common words containing 瀹 include: 瀹茶 (yuè chá) — to brew tea; 瀹茗 (yuè míng) — to brew tea; 疏瀹 (shū yuè) — To dredge; to cleanse.