Learn a Chinese Character - 混 (Hùn/Hún - (Hùn) Mix; blend; combine; confuse; jumble; mingle; associate with; get along; muddle through; adulterate; dilute; live aimlessly; drift through life; deceive; cheat (colloquial); (Hún) Muddy; turbid (similar to 浑))

1. Character Basics

Radical: 氵 (shuǐ) - Water radical

Stroke Count: 11 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Hùn (Fourth tone), Hún (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning:

• Mix; blend; combine
• Confuse; jumble
• Mingle; associate with

Extended Meanings:

• Get along; muddle through
• Adulterate; dilute
• Live aimlessly; drift through life
• Deceive; cheat (colloquial)

Additional Notes:

The character "混" has two main pronunciations: "hùn" which is more common and means "mix" or "mingle", and "hún" which is used in some specific terms and is similar to the character "浑" (hún) meaning "muddy" or "turbid".

4. Common Words

• 混合 (hùn hé) - Mix; blend; combine

  Mix the flour and water together to make dough.
  把面粉和水混合在一起做成面团。

• 混乱 (hùn luàn) - Chaos; confusion; disorder

  The traffic was in chaos after the accident.
  事故发生后，交通一片混乱。

• 混淆 (hùn xiáo) - Confuse; mix up; blur the distinction

  Don't confuse right and wrong.
  不要混淆是非。

• 混日子 (hùn rì zi) - Muddle through life; drift along aimlessly

  He doesn't work hard; he just muddles through each day.
  他工作不努力，只是混日子。

• 混血 (hùn xuè) - Mixed blood; of mixed race

  She is of mixed Chinese and American parentage.
  她是中美混血儿。

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech:

Verb, adjective, noun

Common Usage:

• As a transitive verb meaning "to mix" or "to blend"
• As an intransitive verb meaning "to get along" or "to muddle through"
• As an adjective describing something that is mixed or confused

Common Structures:

• 混 + [noun]: Describes mixing or combining (e.g., 混合, 混淆)
• 混 + [verb]: Indicates the manner of an action (e.g., 混吃混喝)
• 混 + [complement]: Describes the result of mixing (e.g., 混在一起)

Usage Notes:

The verb "混" can have both neutral and slightly negative connotations depending on context. For example, "混合" is neutral, while "混日子" has a negative implication of being lazy or unproductive.

6. Cultural Background

Everyday Expressions:

The character "混" is commonly used in everyday Chinese expressions, especially in colloquial speech. Many of these expressions relate to social interactions, survival strategies, or states of confusion.

Idiomatic Usage:

There are several idioms containing "混", such as "混淆黑白" (hùn xiáo hēi bái - to confuse black and white, meaning to distort the truth) and "混水摸鱼" (hùn shuǐ mō yú - to fish in troubled waters, meaning to take advantage of a chaotic situation).

Modern Usage:

In modern Chinese, especially in internet culture, "混" has developed new usages, such as "混圈" (hùn quān - to be part of a social circle) and "混社会" (hùn shè huì - to make a living in society, sometimes with slightly negative connotations).

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Memory Tips:

1. Break down the character: "混" consists of the water radical 氵 and the character 昆 (kūn, meaning elder brother or insect). You can remember it as "water that has many things mixed in it, like a brother or insects in water."
2. Visual association: Imagine a container with different liquids swirling around and mixing together.
3. Word association: Connect "混" with common words like "混合" (mix) and "混乱" (chaos) to reinforce its meaning.
4. Stroke order: Practice writing the character following the correct stroke order: start with the water radical, then write the 昆 component from top to bottom.
5. Pronunciation note: Remember that "混" has two pronunciations: "hùn" (more common) and "hún" (used in specific terms). Practice both to avoid confusion.