Learn a Chinese Character - 浑 (Hún - Muddy; turbid; mixed; confused; whole; all; impure; unclear; ignorant; muddled; complete; entire; native; rustic)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 水 (shuǐ) - Water radical

Stroke Count: 9 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Hún (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning:

• Muddy; turbid
• Mixed; confused
• Whole; all

Extended Meanings:

• Impure; unclear
• Ignorant; muddled
• Complete; entire
• Native; rustic

Additional Notes:

The character "浑" is often used to describe things that are not clear or pure, whether it's water, thoughts, or understanding.

4. Common Words

• 浑浊 (hún zhuó) - Turbid; muddy

  The water in the river is very turbid after the heavy rain.
  大雨过后，河里的水变得非常浑浊。

• 浑身 (hún shēn) - Entire body; whole body

  He was covered in mud from head to toe.
  他浑身上下都是泥。

• 浑然一体 (hún rán yī tǐ) - Seamlessly integrated; forming a unified whole

  The architecture and the natural environment blend together seamlessly.
  建筑与自然环境浑然一体。

• 浑厚 (hún hòu) - Simple and honest; rich and full

  He has a simple and honest personality.
  他性格浑厚朴实。

• 浑水摸鱼 (hún shuǐ mō yú) - To fish in troubled waters

  Some people try to take advantage of the chaos for personal gain.
  有些人试图浑水摸鱼，从中牟利。

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech:

Adjective, adverb, prefix

Common Usage:

• As an adjective describing turbidity or impurity
• As an adverb meaning "completely" or "entirely"
• As a prefix in compound words

Common Structures:

• 浑 + [noun]: Describes the noun as turbid or mixed (e.g., 浑水, 浑浊)
• 浑 + [body part]: Means "entire" (e.g., 浑身, 浑手浑脚)
• 浑 + [adjective]: Intensifies the adjective (e.g., 浑厚)

Usage Notes:

"浑" is often used in informal or literary contexts. In modern standard Chinese, it is less common in everyday conversation compared to more specific words like "浑浊" (turbid) or "全身" (whole body).

6. Cultural Background

Philosophical Connotations:

In Chinese philosophy, the concept of "浑沌" (hún dùn) refers to a primordial state of undifferentiated chaos, often associated with the beginning of the universe in Daoist thought.

Idiomatic Usage:

The idiom "浑水摸鱼" (hún shuǐ mō yú) - "to fish in troubled waters" - reflects a common cultural understanding of taking advantage of confusing situations. This idiom has been used for centuries in Chinese literature and everyday speech.

Literary References:

The character "浑" appears in many classical Chinese poems and texts, often to describe natural scenery or emotional states. For example, in the poetry of Li Bai, it is used to depict the mighty and turbid Yellow River.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Memory Tips:

1. Break down the character: "浑" consists of the water radical 氵 and the character 军 (jūn, meaning army). You can remember it as "water that looks like an army marching - turbid and chaotic."
2. Visual association: Imagine a muddy river where the water is so turbid you can't see the bottom.
3. Word association: Connect "浑" with common words like "浑浊" (turbid) and "浑身" (whole body) to reinforce its meaning.
4. Stroke order: Practice writing the character following the correct stroke order: start with the water radical, then write the 军 component from top to bottom.
5. Idiom memory: Learn the idiom "浑水摸鱼" (to fish in troubled waters) as a memorable way to recall both the character and its connotations.