淹没 in 30 Seconds
- 淹没 (yānmò) is a B1-level verb meaning 'to submerge' or 'to flood'. It describes objects being covered by water or sounds being drowned out.
- The word consists of '淹' (to soak) and '没' (to sink/disappear). Note the pronunciation of '没' as 'mò', not 'méi'.
- Common contexts include natural disasters (floods), sensory experiences (loud noises), and psychological states (being overwhelmed by work or information).
- It is frequently used in the passive voice with '被' (bèi) to show that something was overcome by an external force.
The Chinese verb 淹没 (yānmò) is a powerful term that primarily describes the action of being submerged, inundated, or swallowed up by water or other liquids. At its core, it consists of two characters: 淹 (yān), meaning to drown or soak, and 没 (mò), meaning to disappear or sink. Together, they create a vivid image of something completely vanishing beneath the surface of a fluid. While its most literal application involves natural disasters like floods covering houses or heavy rain drowning crops, its usage extends far beyond the physical realm into the figurative and sensory experiences of daily life.
- Literal Hydrology
- In a physical context, 淹没 is the standard term for flooding. When a river bursts its banks, the surrounding land is said to be 淹没. It implies a total covering; if only the feet are wet, it is not 淹没. It must be a deep immersion where the original object is no longer visible or is significantly overtaken.
大雨过后，低洼的街道被积水淹没了。 (After the heavy rain, the low-lying streets were submerged by accumulated water.)
- Acoustic Drowning
- One of the most common metaphorical uses is in the context of sound. If a loud noise makes it impossible to hear a quieter one, the quieter sound is 淹没. For example, a speaker's voice might be 'drowned out' by the cheers of a crowd or the roar of an engine.
他的声音很快就被嘈杂的人群淹没了。 (His voice was quickly drowned out by the noisy crowd.)
- Psychological Overwhelm
- In modern literature and daily conversation, 淹没 describes the feeling of being overwhelmed by abstract things like work, information, or emotions. If you have too many emails, you might feel 'submerged' in them. If a city is too big and busy, an individual might feel 'swallowed up' by the urban landscape.
在信息的海洋中，我们很容易被琐事淹没。 (In the ocean of information, we are easily submerged by trivialities.)
Structurally, 淹没 is frequently used in the passive voice with 被 (bèi), indicating that the subject has been overcome by an external element. It can also be used in the 把 (bǎ) construction to emphasize the action of the 'flooder'. Understanding this word requires recognizing that it is not just about water; it is about the total loss of visibility, presence, or audibility of something smaller within something much larger and more powerful.
Mastering 淹没 (yānmò) involves understanding its transitiveness and the typical 'subjects' and 'objects' it interacts with. As a verb, it can take a direct object (the thing being covered) or be used in a passive structure. Because the action usually implies a significant change in state—from visible to invisible—it is almost always accompanied by the aspect particle 了 (le).
- The Passive Structure (Subject + 被 + Agent + 淹没)
- This is the most common way to use the word. The thing being covered comes first. Example: 'The village was submerged by the flood.' Here, 'village' is the subject, and 'flood' is the agent of the submersion.
整个村庄都被洪水淹没了。 (The entire village was submerged by the flood.)
- The Active Structure (Agent + 淹没 + Object)
- In this structure, the force (like water or sound) is the subject. Example: 'The waves submerged the small boat.' This structure is more direct and emphasizes the power of the agent.
巨浪瞬间淹没了那条小船。 (The giant wave submerged that little boat in an instant.)
- Abstract and Metaphorical Use
- When using 淹没 metaphorically, the 'agent' is often something intangible like noise, time, or work. The 'object' is often a person or a person's effort. It suggests that the effort is lost or the person is losing their identity to the environment.
她的才华被平庸的生活淹没了。 (Her talent was buried [submerged] by a mediocre life.)
When practicing, try to think of pairs: Water/Land, Noise/Voice, Time/Memory. In each pair, the first element is what does the 'submerging' and the second is what is 'submerged'. This conceptual framework will help you apply 淹没 correctly across various contexts, from reporting the news to writing poetry or describing a busy office environment.
You will encounter 淹没 (yānmò) in several distinct real-world settings. Recognizing these contexts will help you understand the nuance of the word beyond its dictionary definition. It is a word that bridges the gap between formal news reporting and evocative literary description.
- News and Weather Reports
- This is the most frequent place to hear the word literally. During the rainy season in China (梅雨季节), news anchors often report on 'flooded farmlands' (淹没的农田) or 'submerged bridges' (被淹没的桥梁). It is the technical term used by meteorologists and emergency responders.
据报道，洪水已经淹没了下游的数千公顷土地。 (According to reports, the flood has already submerged thousands of hectares of land downstream.)
- Literature and Poetry
- Writers love 淹没 for its ability to convey a sense of being lost or forgotten. A character might feel 淹没 in a sea of people in a big city like Shanghai or Beijing. It evokes a feeling of insignificance or being overwhelmed by the passage of time (时间的淹没).
历史的尘埃最终会淹没这些无名的英雄。 (The dust of history will eventually submerge these nameless heroes.)
- Social Media and Modern Life
- In the digital age, you might hear people complain about being 'submerged' by messages or notifications. It captures the feeling of information overload. On platforms like Weibo, users might describe a post being 'drowned out' by other trending topics.
我的私信太多了，你的留言很快就被淹没了。 (I have too many private messages; your comment was quickly buried.)
Whether you are watching a documentary about the Three Gorges Dam (where many ancient towns were 淹没) or reading a novel about the alienation of urban life, 淹没 is a key vocabulary item that allows you to describe the overwhelming nature of both physical and abstract forces.
While 淹没 (yānmò) is a versatile word, learners often make specific errors regarding its pronunciation, its object selection, and its confusion with similar-looking or similar-sounding words.
- Pronunciation Error: 'mò' vs. 'méi'
- The character 没 is a polyphone (多音字). In 淹没, it must be pronounced mò (fourth tone). Many beginners mistakenly pronounce it as méi (second tone) because of its extremely common use in '没有' (méiyǒu). Remember: when it means 'sink' or 'disappear', it is mò.
Incorrect: yān méi ❌ | Correct: yānmò ✅
- Confusing with '沉没' (chénmò)
- Both words involve water and 'sinking', but they are used differently. 沉没 is specifically for objects like ships sinking to the bottom of the sea. 淹没 is for the water covering the object. You say 'the ship 沉没-ed' but 'the water 淹没-ed the ship'.
- Using it for 'Drowning' a Person
- To say a person drowned (died in water), the correct term is usually 淹死 (yānsǐ). While a person can be 淹没 in a crowd (metaphorically) or 淹没 in a flood (literally covered by water), 淹没 itself doesn't explicitly mean they died, just that they were covered.
他被人群淹没了。 (He was swallowed up by the crowd. - He is fine, just lost in the crowd.)
- Incorrect Degree Adverbs
- Since 淹没 is often a binary state (either you are covered or you aren't), it's unusual to say '很淹没' (very submerged). Instead, use adverbs like '完全' (completely) or '彻底' (thoroughly) to emphasize the extent.
By paying attention to these nuances—especially the 'mò' pronunciation—you will avoid the most common pitfalls that mark a learner's speech. Always ask yourself: Is the thing being 'covered' or is it 'sinking'? If it's being covered/drowned out, 淹没 is your word.
To truly refine your Chinese, you need to know when to use 淹没 (yānmò) and when a synonym might be more precise. Here is a comparison with related terms.
- 淹没 (yānmò) vs. 沉没 (chénmò)
- 淹没: Focuses on the medium (water, sound) covering the object. Used for land, buildings, and sounds.
- 沉没: Focuses on the object sinking downwards. Used almost exclusively for ships or heavy objects in deep water.
- 淹没 (yānmò) vs. 覆盖 (fùgài)
- 淹没: Implies a liquid or an overwhelming force. Often has a connotation of disaster or loss.
- 覆盖: Means 'to cover' in a more general or neutral sense. Snow covers (覆盖) the ground; a blanket covers a person. It doesn't imply the object 'disappears' in the same dramatic way.
- 淹没 (yānmò) vs. 吞没 (tūnmò)
- 淹没: Emphasizes the liquid aspect.
- 吞没 (to swallow up): More aggressive and metaphorical. Fire can '吞没' a building. A black hole can '吞没' a star. It implies the object is 'consumed' or 'eaten' by the force.
大火很快吞没了整栋建筑。 (The fire quickly swallowed the entire building.)
- 淹没 (yānmò) vs. 埋没 (máimò)
- 淹没: Usually involves water or immediate overwhelming forces.
- 埋没: Literally 'to bury in earth', but mostly used metaphorically for 'burying' someone's talent or potential. If a genius works a dead-end job, their talent is '埋没' (neglected/stifled).
Choosing the right word depends on the 'substance' doing the covering. Use 淹没 for water, liquid, and sound. Use 沉没 for ships. Use 覆盖 for snow or general coverage. Use 吞没 for fire or total consumption. Use 埋没 for earth or neglected talent.
How Formal Is It?
Fun Fact
The character '没' (mò) is one of the most famous polyphones in Chinese. While it usually means 'not have' (méi), its use in 淹没 preserves its ancient meaning of 'sinking' or 'dying in water'.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing 'mò' as 'méi' (the most common error for learners).
- Using the second tone for 'yān' (yán), which changes the meaning.
- Failing to make the fourth tone on 'mò' sharp enough, making it sound like the second tone.
- Vocalizing the 'n' in 'yān' too strongly like an English 'n'; it should be a nasalized vowel ending.
- Merging the two syllables into one blurred sound.
Difficulty Rating
The characters are relatively distinct but '没' as a polyphone can be tricky.
The character '淹' has many strokes and requires careful radical placement.
Requires mastering the 1st and 4th tone transition.
Easy to hear in news contexts, but metaphorical use requires context clues.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
The '被' (bèi) Passive Construction
我的声音被吵闹声淹没了。
Resultative Verb Compounds
淹没 (yānmò) functions as a result: the soaking results in disappearing.
The Aspect Particle '了' (le)
洪水淹没了村庄。 (Indicates the action is completed).
The '把' (bǎ) Construction
大水把路淹没了。
Adverbs of Degree with Verbs
完全淹没 (completely submerged), 几乎淹没 (almost submerged).
Examples by Level
水淹没了小房子。
The water submerged the small house.
Subject + Verb + Object
大雨淹没了路。
Heavy rain submerged the road.
Simple transitive use.
这里被水淹没了。
This place was submerged by water.
Simple passive with 被.
水淹没了我的鞋。
The water submerged my shoes.
Literal physical use.
小草被水淹没了。
The grass was submerged by water.
Passive structure.
水淹没了桥。
The water submerged the bridge.
Basic SVO.
洪水淹没了田地。
The flood submerged the fields.
Noun 'flood' as subject.
他的脚被淹没了。
His feet were submerged.
Passive with focus on body part.
由于大雨，很多街道被淹没了。
Due to heavy rain, many streets were submerged.
Using '由于' (due to) to explain cause.
海水淹没了沙滩上的城堡。
The sea water submerged the castle on the beach.
Specific location 'on the beach'.
洪水淹没了整个村庄。
The flood submerged the whole village.
Use of '整个' (whole/entire).
河水上涨，淹没了小桥。
The river rose and submerged the small bridge.
Two-part sentence showing cause and effect.
大水淹没了低处的庄稼。
The flood submerged the crops in the lowlands.
Descriptive 'low-lying'.
他的声音被大雨声淹没了。
His voice was drowned out by the sound of heavy rain.
Introduction of metaphorical sound use.
那块石头被河水淹没了。
That rock was submerged by the river water.
Passive structure.
地下室被积水淹没了。
The basement was submerged by accumulated water.
Specific indoor context.
在嘈杂的市场上，他的话被淹没了。
In the noisy market, his words were drowned out.
Metaphorical use for sound in a social setting.
我最近被各种琐事淹没了。
I've been submerged in various trivial matters lately.
Abstract use for feeling overwhelmed.
如果不努力，你的才华会被淹没。
If you don't work hard, your talent will be buried.
Conditional sentence with metaphorical meaning.
海浪一次又一次地淹没着礁石。
The waves submerged the reef again and again.
Use of '着' for continuous action.
那座古老的城市最终被海水淹没了。
That ancient city was eventually submerged by the sea.
Historical/Narrative context.
欢呼声淹没了台上的讲话声。
The cheering drowned out the speaking voice on the stage.
Sound vs. Sound comparison.
他觉得在大城市里，自己被淹没了。
He felt that in the big city, he was swallowed up.
Psychological state of insignificance.
森林被浓雾淹没了。
The forest was submerged in thick fog.
Using 'fog' as the submerging medium.
随着水位的上升，附近的农田全部被淹没。
As the water level rose, all nearby farmlands were submerged.
Using '随着' (along with/as).
他的反对意见很快就被赞成声淹没了。
His dissenting opinion was quickly drowned out by the sounds of approval.
Abstract social/political context.
在这个信息爆炸的时代，有价值的信息很容易被淹没。
In this era of information explosion, valuable information is easily buried.
Complex societal observation.
那段悲伤的回忆逐渐被时间淹没了。
That sad memory was gradually submerged by time.
Metaphorical use with 'time'.
大火熄灭后，废墟被厚厚的积雪淹没。
After the fire was extinguished, the ruins were submerged by thick snow.
Sequential actions and change of medium (snow).
他试图说话，但声音被机器的轰鸣声淹没了。
He tried to speak, but his voice was drowned out by the roar of the machinery.
Contrast between human voice and industrial noise.
这座小岛在涨潮时会被完全淹没。
This small island is completely submerged during high tide.
Describing a recurring natural phenomenon.
他的努力似乎被周围人的冷漠淹没了。
His efforts seemed to be submerged by the indifference of those around him.
Deep metaphorical social commentary.
那首诗的深意往往被其华丽的辞藻所淹没。
The deep meaning of that poem is often submerged by its flowery rhetoric.
Literary criticism context.
在宏大的历史叙事中，个人的命运往往被淹没。
In grand historical narratives, individual fates are often submerged.
Philosophical/Academic register.
这种古老的方言正面临着被普通话淹没的危险。
This ancient dialect is facing the danger of being submerged by Mandarin.
Sociolinguistic context.
城市的灯火淹没了天上的星光。
The city lights submerged the starlight in the sky.
Evocative imagery.
真相被谎言的海洋所淹没。
The truth was submerged by an ocean of lies.
Metaphorical use for abstract concepts.
他在那一瞬间被巨大的孤独感所淹没。
In that moment, he was submerged by a massive sense of loneliness.
Internal psychological state.
村庄的宁静被突如其来的游客潮淹没了。
The tranquility of the village was submerged by the sudden tide of tourists.
Describing social change.
那座纪念碑在荒草中被淹没了，无人问津。
The monument was submerged in wild grass, neglected by all.
Describing physical neglect.
随着海平面的持续上升，许多低洼岛国正面临被淹没的生存威胁。
With the continuous rise in sea levels, many low-lying island nations face the existential threat of being submerged.
Formal geopolitical/environmental discourse.
在消费主义的巨浪中，人们的真实需求往往被刻意制造的欲望所淹没。
In the giant waves of consumerism, people's true needs are often submerged by deliberately manufactured desires.
Critical theory/Sociological analysis.
这种艺术形式的独特性正逐渐被大众文化的同质化所淹没。
The uniqueness of this art form is gradually being submerged by the homogenization of mass culture.
Cultural critique.
作者的真实意图被层层叠叠的隐喻所淹没，令读者难以捉摸。
The author's true intention is submerged by layers of metaphors, making it elusive for readers.
Advanced literary analysis.
在那场政治风暴中，理性的声音被狂热的情绪彻底淹没。
In that political storm, the voice of reason was completely submerged by fanatical emotions.
Historical/Political analysis.
他毕生的成就最终被时代的尘埃所淹没，只留下一个模糊的名字。
His lifelong achievements were eventually submerged by the dust of the era, leaving only a blurred name.
Reflective/Melancholic tone.
当洪水退去，被淹没的真相才慢慢浮出水面。
When the flood recedes, the submerged truth slowly surfaces.
Complex metaphor involving 'surfacing'.
现代建筑的冰冷感淹没了这座城市原有的温情。
The coldness of modern architecture submerged the original warmth of this city.
Aesthetic/Urbanist critique.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— To be submerged/lost in the middle of something.
他淹没在繁忙的工作之中。
— A submerged city, often referring to Atlantis or flood zones.
这是一部关于被淹没的城市的纪录片。
— To be lost in a sea of people (metaphor for being average).
在这个大都市，我只是淹没在人海中的一员。
— Cannot be submerged or silenced.
正义的声音是无法淹没的。
— Completely submerged.
洪水彻底淹没了下游的村庄。
— To overshadow someone's brilliance/light.
任何困难都不能淹没他的光芒。
— To be submerged in tears (very emotional).
她的话淹没在泪水中。
— Drowned out by noise.
音乐声被噪音淹没了。
— Almost got submerged.
那块石头差点被上涨的海水淹没。
— In the process of being submerged.
河水正在淹没河边的步道。
Often Confused With
Ships sink (沉没); land gets covered by water (淹没).
淹死 means someone died in water; 淹没 just means they were covered.
埋没 is for burying in dirt or wasting talent; 淹没 is for water or noise.
Idioms & Expressions
— A disaster that covers one's head; a fatal catastrophe.
这场洪水对村民来说是没顶之灾。
Literary— To follow the waves and flow with the current; to drift with the tide (losing oneself).
他选择随波逐流，淹没在平庸中。
Figurative— A sea of people; context where one might be '淹没'.
广场上人山人海，他瞬间被淹没了。
Common— Like a stone sinking into the sea; something that disappears without a trace.
我的信发出去后石沉大海，被淹没在堆积的邮件中。
Common— To disappear from the scene; to become silent (related to being 'drowned out').
那个歌手在被负面新闻淹没后销声匿迹了。
Formal— A single grain of millet in the vast ocean; a drop in the bucket.
个人在历史中不过是沧海一粟，很容易被淹没。
Literary— Sensual pleasures (often used to say someone is 'submerged' in vice).
他淹没在声色犬马的生活中。
Formal— Public opinion can melt gold; similar to how a voice is 'drowned out' by the many.
众口铄金，真相往往被谣言淹没。
Literary— Beyond redemption; often used when someone is 'submerged' in a permanent disaster.
一旦陷入这种瘾，就可能淹没在万劫不复的深渊。
Strong— Surging and magnificent; the kind of 'waves' that could '淹没' things.
在波澜壮阔的历史进程中，旧事物被淹没了。
LiteraryEasily Confused
Both mean 'swallowed up'.
淹没 is specifically for liquids or sounds; 吞没 is for fire, black holes, or general aggressive consumption. 吞没 is more dramatic.
火焰吞没了房子 (Fire swallowed the house) vs. 洪水淹没了房子 (Flood submerged the house).
Both mean 'to cover'.
覆盖 is neutral and can be thin (like a blanket or signal); 淹没 is deep and overwhelming.
雪覆盖了路 (Snow covered the road) vs. 水淹没了路 (Water submerged the road).
Both involve being in water.
浸泡 means 'to soak' intentionally or for a long time; 淹没 means 'to cover' as a result of rising levels.
他在水里浸泡了很久 (He soaked in water for a long time).
Both relate to floods.
泛滥 is the act of overflowing or being rampant; 淹没 is the result of that overflow covering something.
河水泛滥 (The river is flooding/overflowing).
Both sound similar and mean 'disappear'.
湮灭 is extremely formal/scientific, meaning to annihilate or completely vanish from existence (like matter and anti-matter).
物质在黑洞中湮灭。
Sentence Patterns
水 + 淹没了 + [Object]
大雨淹没了街道。
[Object] + 被 + [Agent] + 淹没了
房子被洪水淹没了。
淹没在 + [Place/Abstract] + 之中
他淹没在繁忙的工作之中。
几乎/完全 + 被淹没
那个岛几乎被海水淹没了。
[Sound] + 淹没了 + [Another Sound]
掌声淹没了他的讲话。
[Abstract Force] + 淹没了 + [Abstract Object]
时间淹没了所有痛苦。
面临被淹没的危险
这些古建筑正面临被淹没的危险。
[Complex Context] + 被...所淹没
理性的声音被狂热的情绪所淹没。
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Common in news, literature, and middle-to-high level daily conversation.
-
Pronouncing 'yānméi'
→
yānmò
The character 没 has two sounds. In the sense of sinking or disappearing, it must be 'mò'.
-
使用淹没说船 (Using yānmò for ships)
→
使用沉没 (chénmò)
Ships sink (沉没). The water submerges the ship (淹没), but the ship itself '沉没's.
-
很淹没 (Very submerged)
→
完全淹没 (Completely submerged)
淹没 is usually an absolute state, so use degree adverbs like 'completely' instead of 'very'.
-
淹没一个人 (to mean drown a person to death)
→
淹死一个人
淹没 means covered by water; it doesn't necessarily mean they died. Use '淹死' for death.
-
Using 淹没 for fire
→
吞没 (tūnmò)
Fire 'swallows' things; water 'submerges' things. Use '吞没' for fire.
Tips
Passive Preference
淹没 is most naturally used in the passive '被' construction because it focuses on the thing being affected by the flood or noise.
Tone Jump
Practice jumping from the high 1st tone to the low 4th tone. It should sound like a sudden drop.
Water Radical
Both characters have the water radical (氵). This is your best clue for its literal meaning.
Sound Drowning
When your voice isn't heard because of noise, '淹没' is the perfect word to use.
Literary Flair
Using '淹没在人海' instead of just '人很多' makes your writing sound much more advanced.
Environmental Use
If you are writing about climate change, '淹没' is an essential word for rising sea levels.
The 'No More' Trick
Think of 'mò' as 'no more'. When something is '淹没', it is 'no more' visible.
淹没 vs 埋没
Water vs Dirt. 淹没 is for water; 埋没 is for being buried in dirt or neglect.
Busy Signal
Tell your boss '我被工作淹没了' to sound like a native (though maybe use it carefully!).
News Trigger
When you hear '洪水' (flood), expect '淹没' to follow soon after.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a person ('人') in the middle of '淹' getting covered by '氵' (water) until they '没' (disappear/mò).
Visual Association
Picture a city skyline where only the tops of the skyscrapers are visible above a blue sea. That is '淹没'.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to find three things in your room that could be '淹没' by water, and three things in your life that are currently '淹没' by noise or work.
Word Origin
The character '淹' consists of the water radical '氵' and '奄' (yǎn), which provides the sound and originally meant 'to cover' or 'to stay'. '没' consists of '氵' and '役' (shortened), originally meaning to dive into water or to disappear.
Original meaning: To be completely covered by water or to disappear into a liquid.
Sino-TibetanCultural Context
When discussing '淹没' in the context of natural disasters, be mindful of the significant loss of life and property that floods cause in many parts of China.
In English, we use 'submerge' for water and 'drown out' for sound. Chinese uses '淹没' for both, making it a more versatile word for 'overwhelming' forces.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Weather and Natural Disasters
- 发生洪灾 (flood occurring)
- 水位上涨 (water level rising)
- 淹没农田 (submerged farmland)
- 受灾严重 (severely affected)
Noise and Sound
- 声音嘈杂 (noisy sound)
- 被噪音淹没 (drowned by noise)
- 听不清楚 (cannot hear clearly)
- 大声喧哗 (shouting loudly)
Work and Stress
- 工作繁忙 (busy with work)
- 被琐事淹没 (submerged in trifles)
- 压力巨大 (huge pressure)
- 喘不过气 (cannot catch one's breath)
History and Time
- 历史长河 (long river of history)
- 被时间淹没 (submerged by time)
- 遗忘的角落 (forgotten corner)
- 古老的传说 (ancient legend)
Urban Life
- 人山人海 (sea of people)
- 淹没在城市里 (lost in the city)
- 快节奏生活 (fast-paced life)
- 渺小的个人 (insignificant individual)
Conversation Starters
"你有没有过被工作淹没的感觉？ (Have you ever felt submerged in work?)"
"如果发生大洪水，你觉得哪些地方会被淹没？ (If a big flood happens, which places do you think will be submerged?)"
"在嘈杂的聚会上，你如何防止自己的声音被淹没？ (At a noisy party, how do you keep your voice from being drowned out?)"
"你认为现代科技会淹没传统文化吗？ (Do you think modern technology will submerge traditional culture?)"
"你最喜欢的书里，有没有关于被淹没的城市的描述？ (In your favorite book, is there a description of a submerged city?)"
Journal Prompts
描写一次你感到被生活琐事淹没的经历，以及你如何走出来的。 (Describe a time you felt submerged in life's trifles and how you got out.)
想象一下，如果你的一项才华被淹没了，你会怎么做？ (Imagine if one of your talents was buried; what would you do?)
写一段关于未来海平面上升，城市被淹没的科幻故事。 (Write a sci-fi story fragment about rising sea levels and cities being submerged.)
讨论一下，在信息爆炸的时代，我们该如何防止真相被淹没。 (Discuss how we can prevent truth from being submerged in the age of information explosion.)
描述一个被大雨淹没后的清晨。 (Describe a morning after a place has been submerged by heavy rain.)
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYou can say a person was '淹没' in a flood, meaning the water covered them. However, if you want to say they died from it, you must use '淹死' (yānsǐ).
Use '沉没' for ships or heavy objects that go to the bottom. Use '淹没' for land, houses, or sounds that are covered by something else.
In this word, it is always 'mò' (4th tone). Never pronounce it 'méi' here.
It is usually negative or neutral. It implies being overwhelmed, lost, or destroyed by a larger force.
Yes, if the snow is very deep and completely covers something (like a car or a small house), you can use 淹没. For light snow, use '覆盖'.
Yes, it is very common to say '被孤独淹没' (submerged by loneliness) or '被悲伤淹没' (submerged by sadness).
淹没 is for water/liquid; 吞没 (swallow up) is more aggressive and often used for fire or metaphorical 'eating' of an object.
Yes, it is a HSK 5 / B1-B2 level word that is used frequently in news and literature.
Yes, '大城市的灯火淹没了星光' (The city lights submerged the starlight) is a beautiful and common usage.
You say: [Agent] + 把 + [Object] + 淹没了. Example: '洪水把村庄淹没了'.
Test Yourself 200 questions
用“淹没”写一个关于洪水的句子。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
用“淹没”写一个关于声音的句子。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
用“淹没”写一个关于工作的比喻句。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
用“被...淹没”写一个被动句。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
描述一个人在人群中的感受（使用“淹没”）。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
写一个关于时间与记忆的句子（使用“淹没”）。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
用“淹没”描述由于全球变暖可能发生的情况。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
写一个关于“真相”的哲理句（使用“淹没”）。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
用“淹没”描述大雪过后的景象。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
写一个对话，其中包含“被工作淹没”。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
用“淹没”描述一个艺术形式的现状。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
写一个关于“声音”和“机器”的句子。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
用“淹没”描述一个人的情绪。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
描述一个被遗忘的建筑（使用“淹没”）。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
写一个关于“灯光”的句子。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
用“把...淹没”写一个句子。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
用“淹没”写一个关于“海浪”的句子。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
写一个关于“信息爆炸”的句子。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
用“淹没”描述一个人的才华。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
写一个关于“城市”和“个人”的句子。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
请大声朗读：‘洪水淹没了整个村庄。’
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请解释‘被工作淹没’是什么意思。
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如果你在吵闹的地方，你会怎么说你的声音？
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朗读并注意‘没’的读音：‘被淹没的才华’。
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用‘淹没’描述一下你见过的一次大雨。
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你会担心海平面上升淹没城市吗？为什么？
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请用‘淹没’造一个比喻句。
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朗读：‘不要让生活的琐事淹没了你的梦想。’
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描述一下‘淹没’和‘覆盖’的区别。
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你觉得在大城市里，个人会被淹没吗？
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朗读：‘真相被谎言淹没了。’
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如果你的手机掉进水里被‘淹没’了，你会怎么办？
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用‘淹没’说一个关于历史的句子。
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朗读：‘水位已经上升到了淹没桥面的高度。’
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你如何防止自己被信息淹没？
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朗读：‘欢呼声淹没了全场。’
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请用‘淹没’描述一张旧照片。
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朗读：‘大火吞没了森林，洪水淹没了农田。’
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请解释‘石沉大海’和‘淹没’的联系。
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朗读：‘理性的声音被狂热的情绪淹没了。’
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听句子：‘洪水淹没了农田。’ 句子中提到了什么被淹没？
听句子：‘我的话被淹没在噪音里。’ 为什么听不清我的话？
听句子：‘那座古城被沙漠淹没了。’ 古城现在还能看见吗？
听短语：‘被工作淹没’。 这形容的是什么样的状态？
听句子：‘水位上涨淹没了桥。’ 桥怎么了？
听句子：‘真相不该被掩盖，更不该被淹没。’ 说话人的态度是什么？
听句子：‘由于海平面上升，这个岛国正面临淹没的危险。’ 危险的原因是什么？
听句子：‘他的才华被平庸淹没了。’ 这是一个什么样的评价？
听句子：‘大雪淹没了山路。’ 山路现在还能走吗？
听句子：‘机器的轰鸣声淹没了我们的谈话。’ 我们在做什么？
听句子：‘整个村庄都被水淹没了。’ 范围有多大？
听句子：‘不要被暂时的困难淹没。’ 这里的‘淹没’指什么？
听句子：‘历史淹没了许多真相。’ 历史扮演了什么角色？
听句子：‘他瞬间被孤独淹没了。’ 什么时候他感到孤独？
听句子：‘灯火淹没了星光。’ 哪里更亮？
/ 200 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The essence of 淹没 (yānmò) is the total loss of a subject's visibility or presence within an overwhelming medium. Whether it is a house in a flood or a voice in a crowd, the subject is 'swallowed up'. Example: '他的声音被欢呼声淹没了' (His voice was drowned out by the cheers).
- 淹没 (yānmò) is a B1-level verb meaning 'to submerge' or 'to flood'. It describes objects being covered by water or sounds being drowned out.
- The word consists of '淹' (to soak) and '没' (to sink/disappear). Note the pronunciation of '没' as 'mò', not 'méi'.
- Common contexts include natural disasters (floods), sensory experiences (loud noises), and psychological states (being overwhelmed by work or information).
- It is frequently used in the passive voice with '被' (bèi) to show that something was overcome by an external force.
Passive Preference
淹没 is most naturally used in the passive '被' construction because it focuses on the thing being affected by the flood or noise.
Tone Jump
Practice jumping from the high 1st tone to the low 4th tone. It should sound like a sudden drop.
Water Radical
Both characters have the water radical (氵). This is your best clue for its literal meaning.
Sound Drowning
When your voice isn't heard because of noise, '淹没' is the perfect word to use.
Example
大雨淹没了村庄。
