水 from HSK Level 1 Vocabulary List

The Chinese character 水 (shuǐ) for "water" is a pictograph that depicts water flowing from a higher to a lower place. The character is composed of two parts: the upper part, 氵(shuǐ), represents water, and the lower part, 止 (zhǐ), represents stopping or standing still. Together, they convey the idea of water that is flowing but also contained.The character 水 has a rich history and has been used in Chinese writing for thousands of years. It is one of the most common characters in the Chinese language and is used in a wide variety of words and phrases related to water, such as 河水 (hé shuǐ, river water), 湖水 (hú shuǐ, lake water), and 海水 (hǎi shuǐ, sea water).The character 水 is also used in many Chinese idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 水到渠成 (shuǐ dào qú chéng) means "water flows naturally to the lowest point," and is used to describe something that happens naturally or effortlessly. Another idiom, 水落石出 (shuǐ luò shí chū), means "when the water recedes, the stones emerge," and is used to describe the truth being revealed after a period of uncertainty.In addition to its literal meaning, the character 水 also has a number of symbolic meanings in Chinese culture. It is often associated with purity, life, and abundance. Water is also seen as a source of power and energy, and is often used in Chinese art and literature to represent these concepts.Overall, the character 水 is a rich and complex character with a long history and a variety of meanings. It is an essential character for HSK learners to master, as it is used in a wide range of words and phrases in the Chinese language.