冲 chōng wash
wash; rinse; flush; dash; to clash; to rush
How to remember 冲: 冫 ice + 中 middle = wash. After the match the janitor turns the hose on the dirty ice in the middle of the rink to wash away the mud.
Component breakdown
冲 = 冫 ice + 中 middle
- 冫 ice
- 中 middle
After the match the janitor turns the hose on the dirty ice in the middle of the rink to wash away the mud.
How it is used
- Concrete verb "to rinse/pour hot water over": 冲咖啡 chōng kāfēi "to make coffee", 冲个澡 chōng ge zǎo "take a quick shower" - everyday spoken usage.
- Also means "to rush/dash": 冲过去 chōng guòqù "rush over there", 冲浪 chōnglàng "to surf".
- Figurative compounds are common: 冲动 chōngdòng "impulsive, an urge" (别冲动 - "don't be rash"), 冲突 chōngtū "conflict", used for both personal disputes and scheduling clashes.