淌

• Pinyin: tǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 淌 = 氵(water) + 尚 (still, phonetic)

Meaning

To flow; to drip; to stream. Describes liquid flowing or dripping down.

Used for liquids flowing in a continuous stream, especially tears, sweat, blood, or water. Often appears in literary or emotional contexts. Can describe both gentle flowing and heavier streaming.

Examples

1. 汗水顺着他的脸颊淌下来，浸湿了整件衬衫。 Sweat streamed down his cheeks, soaking his entire shirt.
2. 她默默地看着窗外，泪水止不住地往下淌。 She silently gazed out the window as tears flowed down uncontrollably.
3. 融化的雪水沿着屋檐淌下，滴滴答答地响个不停。 Melting snow trickled down from the eaves, dripping and pattering nonstop.

Usage Guide

Context: descriptive, literary, emotional

Tone: vivid

Do Say

• 他累得汗往下淌。(He was so exhausted that sweat was streaming down.)
• 眼泪淌了一脸。(Tears streamed all over the face.)

Don't Say

• 用'淌'描述河流 (Don't use 淌 for rivers — use 流; 淌 is for smaller streams like tears or sweat)

Origin & History

Composed of 氵(water radical) and 尚 (phonetic), suggesting water flowing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal