Learn a Chinese Character - 滑 (Huá - Slippery; smooth; slide; glide; smooth movement; to make smooth; slippery slope; to slide down; to skate; to ski; fluid; flowing)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 氵/水 (shuǐ) - Water radical

Stroke Count: 12 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Huá (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: Slippery; smooth; slide; glide

Extended Meanings:

Smooth movement; To make smooth
Slippery slope; To slide down
To skate; To ski
Fluid; flowing

Additional Notes: Often describes surfaces or movements that are smooth or slippery

4. Common Words

滑动 (huá dòng): To slide

请不要在走廊里滑动。Please don't slide in the hallway.
滑雪 (huá xuě): Skiing

冬天我们喜欢去滑雪。We like to go skiing in winter.
滑冰 (huá bīng): Ice skating

她在冰场上滑冰滑得很好。She skates very well on the ice rink.
光滑 (guāng huá): Smooth; slick

这块石头的表面很光滑。The surface of this stone is very smooth.
滑倒 (huá dǎo): To slip and fall

小心地滑，别滑倒了。Be careful of the slippery floor, don't slip and fall.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Verb; adjective; noun

Common Usage:

As a verb meaning "to slide"
As an adjective meaning "slippery" or "smooth"
In compound words related to sliding or smoothness

Common Structures:

滑 + Object: 滑雪 (huá xuě) - To ski
滑 + Complement: 滑得快 (huá de kuài) - To slide fast
Adverb + 滑: 慢慢滑 (màn màn huá) - To slide slowly

Usage Notes: Often used in phrases describing movement or texture

6. Cultural Background

Winter Sports in China: Skiing and ice skating have become popular activities in China, especially since the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: The concept of "滑" (smooth, slippery) is also used in TCM to describe certain textures and properties of herbal medicines.

Idioms and Expressions: There are many idioms containing "滑", such as "油嘴滑舌" (yóu zuǐ huá shé) meaning "smooth-talking".

Modern Usage: In modern Chinese, "滑" is also used in terms like "滑动屏幕" (huá dòng píng mù) - "to swipe the screen" on mobile devices.

7. Example Sentence

Example 1:

孩子们喜欢在雪地上滑雪。

Children like skiing on the snow.

Example 2:

地板很滑，小心别摔倒。

The floor is slippery, be careful not to fall.

Example 3:

我学会了滑旱冰。

I learned how to roller skate.

8. Memory Tips

1. Structural Memory: The character 滑 consists of the radical 氵(water) and 骨 (bone) phonetic component. Think of water making surfaces slippery.

2. Sound Association: The pronunciation "huá" sounds similar to the English word "slide" - both relate to smooth movement.

3. Visual Memory: Imagine water flowing smoothly over a surface, making it slippery.

4. Word Grouping: Group words containing 滑: 滑动 (slide), 滑雪 (ski), 滑冰 (skate), 光滑 (smooth), 滑倒 (slip and fall).

5. Sentence Practice: Create simple sentences using 滑 to reinforce your memory, such as "地板很滑" (The floor is slippery).