Writing Balance Rule: The left water radical (氵) takes up about one-third of the width, leaving two-thirds for the right phonetic component (勇). Keep the right side balanced and compact.
Simplification Logic: The traditional form (湧) and simplified form (涌) share the exact same radical and phonetic structure; the simplified form retains the standard water radical and brave component without altering stroke composition.
1. Meaning
to bubble up, to surge, to gush forth
to well up (of emotions or ideas)to rise or spring forth like water
VerbNeutral#nature#water#emotions#movement
Sample Usage
泪水涌了出来。
lèi shuǐ yǒng le chū lái.
Tears welled up.
泉水从地下涌出。
quán shuǐ cóng dì xià yǒng chū.
Spring water gushes out from underground.
2. Sound
/[jʊŋ²¹⁴]/Tone: 214
涌
yǒngyong3
|
++
ˇ(214)
=yǒng
Build the syllable
Step-by-step blending
yong
Tone mark placement: Tone mark sits on "o" per main-vowel priority (a > e > o; in -iu/-ui the mark takes the second vowel).
Initial Consonant
y
Type: Glide (y)
Sounds like: Glide (y)
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Acts as a bridge into 'i' or 'ü' vowel sounds.
Tongue & Mouth Position: No initial consonant obstruction; tongue starts neutral and glides directly into the vowel rhyme.
Final Rhyme
ong
Vowel Group: -o vowel group
Sounds like: -ong rhymes with rung
Mouth Shape Guide: Combine initial 'h-' (h) with final '-ong' (oong).
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T3 (214)
2 → 1 → 4 (214)
3rd Tone (Low-Dipping)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 3 dips down and rises back up, matching the cadence of an English incredulous 'Really?' or 'Huh?'.
Sandhi: When followed by another Tone 3 syllable, yǒng changes to a Tone 2 (rising 35) sound, becoming yóng.
👂
Listening trap: Do not confuse the retroflex or dental initials with this zero-initial vowel starting with a semi-vowel 'y'. Ensure the dipping pitch of Tone 3 is fully executed rather than flattened.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Trace a checkmark in the air: start medium-high, dip down low to your chest, and sweep sharply upward to finish high.
3. Writing
Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 10 strokes
Writing Balance Rule: The left water radical (氵) takes up about one-third of the width, leaving two-thirds for the right phonetic component (勇). Keep the right side balanced and compact.
Simplification Logic: The traditional form (湧) and simplified form (涌) share the exact same radical and phonetic structure; the simplified form retains the standard water radical and brave component without altering stroke composition.
4. Components
Radical氵 · Water Radical (water, liquids, rivers)
Semantic Clue (形旁):氵 (Indicates that the action involves liquids, bubbling, or flowing water.)
Phonetic Clue (声旁):勇 (original sound: yǒng)
Water (氵) combines with bravery/courage (勇) to picture a brave, forceful stream of water that rushes and bubbles up with unstoppable courage.
氵 water semantic indicator
勇 yǒng phonetic and meaning contributor of force/bravery
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
15· Phonetic Root: 甬 (yǒng)
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)
Origin: Combined from the water sign (氵) to denote liquids and the phonetic/semantic element (勇) representing vigorous energy and force.
Semantic Evolution: Originally referred specifically to bubbling or gushing water springs, later extended metaphorically to describe surging crowds, emotions welling up, or thoughts rushing into one's mind.
In classical Chinese literature, yǒng frequently described turbulent waves or sudden subterranean spring water breaking through the earth.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: ユウ / Kun: わ.く
Sound Shift Bridge: The Mandarin rhyme '-ong' corresponds to Japanese 'ou' or 'u' readings in historical borrowings.
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story
With unstoppable BRAVERY (勇), a gushing torrent of WATER (氵) BUBBLES UP and surges over the dam.
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
甬
yǒngYong River 甬江[Yong3 Jiang1] in Ningbo 寧波|宁波[Ning2 bo1]; short name for NingboPhonetic Core (声旁)