蘸

zhàn

艹 + 醮

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

zhàn to dip in (ink, sauce etc)

Etymology

To perform a rite 醮 again (like a perennial 艹)

About

蘸 is a phono-semantic compound with the grass radical 艹 on top, semantically pointing to plant-based dyes or herbal tinctures. The lower component 醮 provides the phonetic element while historically relating to libations or liquid offerings. Its core meaning is the verb denoting the action of briefly dipping something into a liquid, paste, or powder, as when one dips a brush in ink or food in sauce. This specific sense remains consistent across its usage.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我蘸了点酱油。

Wǒ zhàn le diǎn jiàngyóu.

I dipped some soy sauce.

面包蘸牛奶很好吃。

Miànbāo zhàn niúnǎi hěn hǎochī.

Bread dipped in milk is very tasty.

他喜欢蘸醋吃饺子。

Tā xǐhuan zhàn cù chī jiǎozi.

He likes to eat dumplings dipped in vinegar.

她用毛笔蘸墨写字。

Tā yòng máobǐ zhàn mò xiě zì.

She uses a brush dipped in ink to write characters.

吃火锅时，我们常蘸芝麻酱。

Chī huǒguō shí, wǒmen cháng zhàn zhīmajiàng.

When eating hot pot, we often dip in sesame sauce.

这幅画是用蘸了颜料的笔画成的。

Zhè fú huà shì yòng zhàn le yánliào de bǐ huà chéng de.

This painting was done with a brush dipped in pigment.

厨师小心地蘸糖浆装饰蛋糕。

Chúshī xiǎoxīn de zhàn tángjiāng zhuāngshì dàngāo.

The chef carefully dips syrup to decorate the cake.

在传统书法中，蘸墨的技巧很重要。

Zài chuántǒng shūfǎ zhōng, zhàn mò de jìqiǎo hěn zhòngyào.

In traditional calligraphy, the technique of dipping ink is very important.

Related Characters

Component: 艹

蘸