浸泡

• Pinyin: jìn pào
• Hanzi breakdown: 浸 = 氵(water) + 寝 — to soak, immerse; 泡 = 氵(water) + 包 — to steep, soak, bubble

Meaning

To soak; to immerse. Leaving something submerged in liquid for a period of time.

Used for soaking food, herbs, or objects in water or other liquids. Can also be used metaphorically for being immersed in an environment or atmosphere. The duration is typically longer than just dipping (蘸).

Examples

1. 这种药材需要在温水中浸泡两个小时。 This herbal medicine needs to be soaked in warm water for two hours.
2. 地下室在暴雨后被浸泡了整整三天。 The basement was submerged in water for three full days after the heavy rain.
3. 他从小就浸泡在音乐的氛围中长大。 He grew up immersed in a musical atmosphere from a young age.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, medicine, damage description

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 浸泡一夜。(Soak overnight.)
• 浸泡在水里。(Soaked in water.)

Don't Say

• 浸泡一下 for quick dipping (Don't use 浸泡 for quick dips — use 蘸 or 泡一下; 浸泡 implies sustained immersion)

Origin & History

Composed of 浸 (to soak; immerse) + 泡 (to steep; soak). Both characters relate to immersion in liquid, reinforcing the meaning.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal