Learning how to say common household items in Chinese makes daily conversations much easier. The most common way for how to say sink in Chinese / Mandarin is 水槽 (shuǐ cáo), and people all over China will understand you.
But depending on whether you’re talking about a kitchen sink or a bathroom sink, you’ll hear different words. Other expressions exist for specific situations.
Table of Contents
Chinese speakers pick their words for “sink” based on context and how formal they want to sound. In casual chats, you might hear 洗菜池 (xǐ cài chí) for a kitchen sink or 洗手间盆 (xǐ shǒu jiān pén) for a bathroom sink.
Knowing these variations lets you sound more natural when talking with native speakers.
Key Takeaways
- The standard Mandarin word for sink is 水槽 (shuǐ cáo), and it fits most situations.
- Kitchen and bathroom sinks have their own informal terms in daily life.
- Context and formality help you decide which word works best.
Core Translations of ‘Sink’ in Chinese
Chinese uses different words for “sink” depending on whether it’s a noun or a verb. There are special words for bathroom and kitchen sinks too.
The most common term is 水槽 (shuǐ cáo), but the exact word depends on context.
Sink as a Noun: Common Fixtures
The go-to translation for “sink” in Mandarin is 水槽 (shuǐ cáo). People use this for most household sinks.
If you want to get technical, try 洗涤槽 (xǐ dí cáo), which means “washing tank.” You’ll see this in commercial or technical settings.
水池 (shuǐ chí) is a broader word for “sink” or “pool.” It covers any basin or water fixture, but people don’t use it as much for household sinks.
Sink as a Verb: To Go Down or Submerge
When “sink” is a verb, the Chinese translation changes to 沉没 (chén mò). This means “to sink” or “to submerge,” like when something goes underwater.
Another verb, 下沉 (xià chén), means “to sink down” or “descend.” It’s used for things that settle slowly.
陷入 (xiàn rù) describes sinking into something soft, like mud or quicksand. It means getting stuck or embedded.
Bathroom and Kitchen Sink Variations
For bathroom sinks, people usually say 洗手盆 (xǐ shǒu pén), which literally means “hand-washing basin.” This one’s super common in daily speech.
The phrase 洗手间盆 (xǐ shǒu jiān pén) means “washroom basin” and works the same way.
Kitchen sinks get their own word: 洗菜池 (xǐ cài chí), which is “vegetable-washing pool.” In southern China, people sometimes use 洗碗槽 (xǐ wǎn cáo) for “dish-washing sink” that you might find on the floor.
| Location | Chinese Term | Pinyin | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | 洗手盆 | xǐ shǒu pén | Hand-washing basin |
| Kitchen | 洗菜池 | xǐ cài chí | Vegetable-washing pool |
| General | 水槽 | shuǐ cáo | Water trough |
How to Use ‘Sink’ in Different Contexts
“Sink” works as both a noun (a basin) and a verb (to descend or submerge). Chinese has a bunch of terms for the noun, depending on the sink’s type and where it is, while the verb uses different characters entirely.
Everyday Speech and Informal Usage
In casual talk, you’ll hear 水槽 (shuǐ cáo) most often for sink. It literally means “water trough,” but it’s just the everyday word.
For kitchen stuff, people often say 洗碗槽 (xǐ wǎn cáo) for “dish-washing sink.” If you’re prepping veggies, 洗菜池 (xǐ cài chí) is the go-to term.
The general word 水池 (shuǐ chí) pops up in everyday speech too, especially when it’s obvious from context.
For the verb “to sink,” people use 沉 (chén) in phrases like 船沉了 (chuán chén le), which means “the boat sank.” If something sinks into a surface, you’d use 陷入 (xiàn rù).
Formal and Technical Terms
In professional settings, people get more specific. Architects and plumbers use 洗涤槽 (xǐ dí cáo) in blueprints and technical docs.
Hospitals and labs use 沉洗池 (chén xǐ chí) for special cleaning basins. You’ll see that in manuals and equipment lists.
Building codes and drawings use compound terms for different sink styles. For example, a bathroom sink might be called 洗面池 (xǐ miàn chí) in official paperwork.
Writers add modifiers to clarify if it’s counter-mounted, wall-mounted, or pedestal style. These formal expressions keep things clear in construction plans.
Regional Variations and Colloquialisms
Terms can change a lot by region. In Taiwan, people stick with 水槽, while in mainland China, you’ll hear 洗手池 (xǐ shǒu chí) for bathroom sinks.
Southern dialects like Cantonese use 洗手盆 (sái sáu pùhn), which also means “hand-washing basin.” You probably won’t hear that much in northern Mandarin-speaking areas.
Hong Kong locals sometimes just say “sink” in English, mixing it into Cantonese. Older folks in rural places might use 洗面盆 (xǐ miàn pén) instead.
Coastal cities have even more variation, probably from international influences. Some regional differences show up in the way people combine characters, but the meaning stays about the same.
Related Verbs and Idiomatic Uses of ‘Sink’
The verb “to sink” in Chinese covers more than just the physical action. It can mean falling, submerging, or even describe emotional states and tough situations.
Actions: To Fall, Drop, or Decline
Depending on the context, you’ve got a few options. 下沉 (xià chén) means “to sink” or “submerge” great for objects dropping below the surface.
沉没 (chén mò) is mostly for ships or things that go completely underwater.
陷 (xiàn) is about something caving in or getting stuck. You’ll see it in words like 下陷 (xià xià), which means “to cave in” or “subside.”
堕 (duò) means “to fall” or “drop,” often with a sense of decline. 沉 (chén) and 落 (luò) are basic characters for moving downward, and people combine them with other words for more specific meanings.
Idioms and Metaphorical Expressions
Chinese uses sink-related words to talk about emotional or social decline. 陷入 (xiàn rù) means “to sink into” or “to fall into,” and people use it when entering negative situations.
Someone might sink into despondency or tough times with this phrase. The expression 沉沦 (chén lún) describes a moral or social downfall.
This word hints at a person slipping into bad habits or just unfortunate circumstances. Pass into oblivion or sink into oblivion means being forgotten, and Chinese uses idioms about fading from memory for that too.
Capsize comes up in words about boats flipping over and sinking. The idea of sink and emerge shows up in expressions about facing difficulties again and again.
When people talk about getting stuck or trapped, they use 陷 (xiàn). It really highlights how hard it is to escape a bad situation.
Specialized Meanings and Advanced Vocabulary
Advanced learners run into immerse and submerge as separate ideas in Chinese. Settle describes sediment sinking to the bottom, or things calming down after chaos.
The character 陷 pops up in words for pitfall and trap. That shows how sinking gets tied to danger.
Sometimes, to get or receive connects to sinking metaphors, especially when talking about accepting negative outcomes. You really have to look at the context to figure out if it’s about physical sinking or something more abstract.
Technical words shift a lot between fields like shipping or emotions. It can get confusing fast.
Common Mistakes and Tips
Learners often mix up 下沉 (xià chén) and 下陷 (xià xià). The first one means sinking into water, while the second is about caving in or sinking into the ground.
Pay close attention to the second character so you don’t confuse these terms. Also, don’t use 沈没 (chén mò) for general sinking, it’s just for boats going under.
For emotional states, 陷入 (xiàn rù) works better than literal sinking verbs. The character 沉 (chén) shows up in tons of compound words, so learning it helps you spot related terms about sinking, settling, and decline.
Try to tell the difference between literal and metaphorical uses by checking if the context is about water, emotions, or something more abstract. It’s trickier than it sounds, honestly.
Advanced Applications and Specialized Terms
Chinese doesn’t just use basic words for sinks in bathrooms or kitchens. There are specific terms for technical gear and cultural stuff too.
Scientific fields and old texts bring in totally different expressions from what you’d hear every day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up.
Technical and Scientific Uses
In engineering, a heat sink translates to 散热器 (sàn rè qì). That literally means “heat dissipation device,” and you’ll see it everywhere in electronics talk.
Environmental science uses 碳汇 (tàn huì) for carbon sink. That’s the technical term for natural systems that suck up carbon dioxide from the air.
沉箱 (chén xiāng) means sink box in construction and marine work. Engineers use 洗涤槽 (xǐ dí cáo) for washing tanks in factories, not regular home sinks.
Medical and anatomy books use 凹陷 (āo xiàn) for sunken or recessed features. For example, eyes can sink in if someone’s dehydrated or sick.
The verb 下沉 (xià chén) comes up a lot in technical writing, especially when talking about things sinking and coming back up in fluid studies. It’s a bit niche, but it pops up.
Cultural References and Historical Phrases
Classical Chinese literature uses 深 (shēn) and ideas about “profound” in ways that don’t always match modern speech. The philosopher Zhuangzi loved using water and sinking metaphors to talk about depth and change.
Traditional phrases like 沉住气 (chén zhù qì) mean to keep your emotions down or just stay calm. Sinking here stands in for emotional control.
That term can have a double meaning in old texts. Sometimes it’s about restraint, but it can also hint at suppressing feelings.
Ancient legal books mention 私刑 (sī xíng) for private punishment. It’s not literally about sinking, but the idea of being “sunk” socially or politically is kind of there.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common Chinese word for sink is 水槽 (shuǐ cáo). You can use it in both formal and casual settings.
Different sink types have their own words in Chinese, and how you say them depends on the characters.
How to say sink in Chinese?
To say sink in Chinese, use 水槽 shuǐ cáo.
What is the Chinese term for a kitchen sink?
The informal phrase for a kitchen sink is 洗菜池 (xǐ cài chí). It literally means “vegetable-washing pool,” which is pretty much how people use kitchen sinks anyway.
In some parts of southern China, people say 洗碗槽 (xǐ wǎn cáo) instead. That one focuses on washing dishes more than veggies.
How do you properly pronounce the word for ‘sink’ in Chinese?
The standard word 水槽 is pronounced “shuǐ cáo.” The first character 水 takes the third tone, which dips and then rises a bit.
The second character 槽 uses the second tone, which rises from the middle. Listening to native speakers is honestly the best way to get these tones right.
What is the Chinese translation for a bathroom sink?
A bathroom sink is called 洗手间盆 (xǐ shǒu jiān pén) in informal talk. That means “washroom basin,” and everyone says it in daily life.
The general term 水槽 (shuǐ cáo) also works for bathroom sinks if you want to sound more formal. Either way, people will understand you anywhere Mandarin’s spoken.
How does one say ‘faucet’ in Chinese?
The Chinese word for faucet is 水龙头 (shuǐ lóng tóu). That literally means “water dragon head,” which is kind of a fun image for a tap.
People use it for faucets in both kitchens and bathrooms. It’s the standard word everywhere.
In Chinese, what is the equivalent word for ‘basin’?
The word 盆 (pén) means basin in Chinese. You’ll see it in the bathroom sink term 洗手间盆 (xǐ shǒu jiān pén).
Another word is 水池 (shuǐ chí), which can mean both basin and sink. It’s less common, but people still get what you mean.
Can you explain the concept of ‘sinking’ in Chinese language terms?
The verb “sink” in Chinese is 沉没 (chén mò). It means to sink or submerge.
This word describes when objects go down in water or other liquids. There’s also a more formal term for a fixture: 沉洗池 (chén xǐ chí).
People don’t really use that one in daily conversation, though. The character 沉 (chén) means to sink or settle, so it ties the verb and noun together.
Advanced ways for how to say sink in Chinese sentences:
- Chinese: 厨房的水槽总是堆满脏碗碟，妈妈不得不每天晚上都洗到很晚。
Pinyin: Chúfáng de shuǐ cáo zǒngshì duī mǎn zāng wǎn dié, māma bù dé bù měitiān wǎnshang dōu xǐ dào hěn wǎn.
English: The kitchen sink is always piled with dirty dishes, forcing Mom to wash them late into the night. - Chinese: 他把花插进水槽的缝隙里，给冰冷的浴室增添了一抹生机。
Pinyin: Tā bǎ huā chā jìn shuǐ cáo de xiànfèng lǐ, gěi bīnglěng de yùshì zēngtiān le yī mǒ shēngjī.
English: He placed flowers in the gap of the sink, bringing a touch of life to the cold bathroom. - Chinese: 水槽的水龙头坏了，水流成了一条细线，怎么拧都拧不紧。
Pinyin: Shuǐ cáo de shuǐ lóngtou huài le, shuǐ liú chéngle yī tiáo xìxiàn, zěnniǎo dōu nǐng bù jǐn.
English: The sink’s faucet is broken, with water trickling out in a thin stream that won’t turn off properly. - Chinese: 孩子们把水槽溅得到处都是水，笑声和水声混在一起，充满了整个房间。
Pinyin: Háizimen bǎ shuǐ cáo jiàn de dào chù dōu shì shuǐ, xiàoshēng hé shuǐshēng hùn zài yīqǐ, chōngmǎn le zhěnggè fángjiān.
English: The children splashed water everywhere from the sink; their laughter mixed with the water sounds filled the entire room. - Chinese: 她在水槽边站了许久，看着水流带走所有的肥皂泡，像看着自己的烦恼被冲走。
Pinyin: Tā zài shuǐ cáo biān zhàn le xǔjiǔ, kàn zhe shuǐ liú dài zǒu suǒyǒu de féizàopào, xiàng kàn zhe zìjǐ de fán’nǎo bèi chōng zǒu.
English: She stood by the sink for a long time, watching the water carry away all the soap bubbles, as if washing away her worries.
