淋

• Pinyin: lín
• Hanzi breakdown: 淋 = 氵 + 林 (water + two trees — rainwater dripping through dense foliage, suggesting heavy drenching)

Meaning

To drench; to pour over; to be soaked by liquid. To have liquid fall or be poured heavily onto someone or something.

Describes the action of liquid falling heavily or being poured over a person or object, often resulting in being thoroughly wet. The most common collocation is 淋雨 (to get soaked in the rain) or 淋湿 (to be drenched wet). Can also be used in culinary contexts such as 淋上酱汁 (to drizzle sauce over). Vivid and physical in character, common in spoken and written narrative.

Examples

1. 他出门时忘记带伞，结果在途中被突如其来的大雨淋了个透湿。 He forgot to bring an umbrella when he went out and ended up getting soaked by a sudden downpour.
2. 厨师将精心调配的酱汁均匀地淋在烤鸭表面，让色泽更加红亮诱人。 The chef evenly drizzled the carefully blended sauce over the roast duck, making it look even more glossy and appetizing.
3. 不少路人在暴雨中被淋得浑身湿透，纷纷躲进附近的商店廊檐下避雨。 Many pedestrians were drenched in the heavy rain and hurried under nearby storefront awnings to take shelter.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, cooking, everyday life, descriptive writing

Tone: vivid

Do Say

• 他来不及撑伞便冲进了雨中，等赶到公司时已经被淋得衣服全湿透了。(He dashed into the rain without time to open an umbrella, and by the time he reached the office his clothes were completely drenched.)
• 把热腾腾的糖浆均匀地淋在刚出炉的糕点上，趁热享用风味最佳。(Drizzle the hot syrup evenly over the freshly baked pastries and enjoy them while warm for the best flavour.)

Don't Say

• 将'淋'与'泼'完全互换 — '淋'强调液体从上方滴落或浇下，'泼'更侧重横向用力抛洒液体，动作方向和力度不同

Origin & History

淋 = 氵 + 林 (water + forest — rain pouring through trees, drenching everything below)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal