How to Write 渍 (zì) — Meaning “To stain or soak.”

A common mistake is writing the right side 责 with the top part as '丰' instead of the correct '龶' (which is like '土' with a horizontal line on top). Remember that 责 has a '土' at the top, not a '丰'. For stroke order, write the water radical first (three dots), then the right side: horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal, horizontal, vertical, dot. Practice by breaking it into parts: 氵 + 责, and recall that the water radical always comes first.

渍 (zì) means 'to stain' or 'to soak', focusing on the result of liquid leaving a mark or penetrating. 洁 (jié) means 'clean' or 'pure', which is the opposite concept, and is often used in words like 清洁 (clean). 洄 (huí) means 'to swirl' or 'to flow back', describing water movement, not staining. The key difference is that 渍 is about the effect of liquid on surfaces, while the others relate to cleanliness or water motion.

渍 is commonly used when talking about stains or soaking. For example, 油渍 (yóu zì) means 'oil stain' on clothes, and 污渍 (wū zì) means 'dirt stain'. You might also hear 浸渍 (jìn zì) in cooking or cleaning contexts, meaning 'to soak' something like beans in water. In everyday conversation, you might say '衣服上有油渍' (There's an oil stain on the clothes) or '把衣服浸渍在水里' (Soak the clothes in water).

The character 渍 reflects the importance of water in daily life, especially in traditional practices like washing clothes or preparing food. In ancient China, soaking (浸渍) was a common method for softening grains or cleaning items, so the character naturally evolved to describe these processes. Understanding that water (氵) is a key element in many daily activities helps you see why it appears in so many characters related to liquids and their effects.

渍 often appears in compound words related to stains and soaking. For instance, 油渍 (oil stain) is used when discussing kitchen or clothing stains, 污渍 (dirt stain) is common in cleaning contexts, and 浸渍 (soak) is used in cooking or industrial processes. You might also see 渍水 (soaked water) in some contexts, though it's less common. Practicing these combinations will help you remember the character and use it naturally.

Common words containing 渍 include: 油渍 (yóu zì) — Oil stain; 污渍 (wū zì) — Stain; 浸渍 (jìn zì) — To soak.