About
The character 冲, in its simplified form, presents a structure of water (氵) combined with middle (中), which originally conveyed meanings related to water movement, such as pouring, rinsing, or the action of water against something. Its traditional counterpart, 衝, is structurally different, composed of elements suggesting movement (行) and weight or repetition (重), which pointed toward its core idea of a major thoroughfare or crossroads, and by extension, the act of charging forward or clashing. Over time, the semantic territories of these two distinct characters began to merge and overlap; the watery sense of 冲 absorbed the notions of vigorous motion and impact from 衝, while 衝 itself often carried connotations of a forceful, flowing advance. This convergence allowed the simplified form 冲 to eventually encapsulate both the concept of a swift, directed surge, whether of water, people, or emotions, and the more physical act of confronting or dashing against something, effectively unifying hydraulic and kinetic imagery within a single, streamlined glyph.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我冲了一杯茶。
他冲进了教室。
汽车冲过了路口。
洪水冲走了大桥。
她冲孩子大声喊。
我们必须冲过这条河。
他的勇气冲破了所有困难。
这种药需要用温水冲服。