水
shuǐ
water
surname Shui; (after a name) ... River; to swim (used mostly in 會水|会水[hui4 shui3] and 水性[shui3 xing4]); (coll.) lacking in substance; shoddy; (bound form) additional cost; extra income; classifier for washings of a garment
a picture of 水 → flowing water
The character originally depicted a flowing river with curves and ripples between its banks. From this concrete image of flowing water came all the extended meanings: rivers, swimming, and even metaphorical uses like 'watery' or insubstantial.
你渴了吗？桌上有水，自己倒。
nǐ kě le ma？zhuō shàng yǒu shuǐ，zì jǐ dào。
Are you thirsty? There is water on the table, pour it yourself.
这件衬衫洗了两水还是有点脏。
zhè jiàn chèn shān xǐ le liǎng shuǐ hái shì yǒu diǎn zāng。
This shirt has been through two washings and is still a bit dirty.
Words with 水
水基
shuǐ jī
water-based
水溶
shuǐ róng
water soluble
水牛
shuǐ niú
water buffalo
水雷
shuǐ léi
naval mine
临水
lín shuǐ
facing the water (favored location)
逐水
zhú shuǐ
to relieve oedema through purging or diuresis (Chinese medicine)
通水
tōng shuǐ
to have running water (in a house etc)
进水
jìn shuǐ
to have water get in (one's ear, shoes etc)
进水口
jìn shuǐ kǒu
water inlet
进水闸
jìn shuǐ zhá
water intake
游山玩水
yóu shān wán shuǐ
to go on a scenic tour
过水面
guò shuǐ miàn
cooked noodles cooled with cold water