What is the pinyin for 洪水?

The pinyin for 洪水 is Hóngshuǐ.

Is there a formal or polite way to say "Flood" in Chinese?

Yes — a more formal variant is 洪涝 (Hónglào). Use it with elders, customers, and in business settings.

What HSK level includes "洪水"?

洪水 is an HSK 4 vocabulary item. It is part of the emergencies and health category.

How to Say “Flood” in Chinese

Emergencies and health · HSK 4

Quick Answer

"Flood" in Chinese is 洪水 (Hóngshuǐ). 洪水 (hóngshuǐ) is the everyday word for flood; 洪 means 'vast/flood' and 水 is 'water.' In news reports you'll also see 洪涝 (hónglào, flooding disaster) and 水灾 (shuǐzāi, water disaster), which emphasize the damage rather than the water itself.

Primary translation

洪水

Hóngshuǐ

Variants by register

Formal

洪涝

Hónglào

When to use it

洪水 (hóngshuǐ) is the everyday word for flood; 洪 means 'vast/flood' and 水 is 'water.' In news reports you'll also see 洪涝 (hónglào, flooding disaster) and 水灾 (shuǐzāi, water disaster), which emphasize the damage rather than the water itself. Floods are a major concern along the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers every summer, and 发洪水 (fā hóngshuǐ, 'a flood breaks out') is how Chinese expresses the event; 发 is the same verb used for 发烧 (getting a fever), suggesting something erupting.