to boil

JLPT N5 13 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Multiple Meanings of ""

The character "" (gǔn) primarily means "to boil," as in water or other liquids reaching boiling point. However, it also has a colloquial and strong usage meaning "to get lost" or "go away," often used in angry or informal speech. Additionally, "" can describe the physical action of rolling or tumbling, such as a ball rolling down a hill.

Usage Notes

When used to mean "boil," it typically appears in contexts involving cooking or heating liquids, e.g., "" (the water is boiling). The imperative phrase "" is a rude way to tell someone to leave immediately, so it should be used with caution.

Common Collocations

  • "" (water is boiling): describing boiling liquids.
  • "" (get lost): a strong, informal command to leave.
  • "" (ball rolls down): describing rolling movement.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse "" with "" (zhǔ), which means "to cook" or "to boil" in a more general sense. "" emphasizes the boiling or rolling action specifically. Also, be mindful of the tone when using "" as a command, as it can be offensive.

Example Sentences

The water is boiling in the pot.

He angrily said, 'Get lost!'

The ball rolled down the hill.