<p>溺 is a formal word. </p>

<p>淹 is a colloquial word in daily usage. </p>

<p>For example, 淹死；老鼠淹死在可乐里面了（for your case）；小心别被（水）淹到；淹死你！；</p>

<p>These are the sentences that are used often in practice. </p>

<p>There are some set phrases: ...被...淹了； ...让...淹了； For example, 老鼠<strong>被</strong>可乐<strong>淹了</strong>；蔬菜<strong>让</strong>水<strong>淹了</strong>；</p>

<p>There is another phrase 淹没 meaning overwhelm. For example, 他被淹没了 means he is overwhelmed. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-23T01:33:39.083Z
2017-09-23T01:33:39.083Z
dan
<p>Although you can not say 溺可乐, you can say 溺死在可乐中, which is more romantic anyway.</p>

<p>溺于可乐 is acceptable, because now it is not a fixed word but a sentence.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T11:04:57.033Z
2017-09-22T11:23:34.313Z
2017-09-22T11:23:34.313Z
sfy
<p>No, you can't. For people whom are unfortunate and stupid to be deceased causing by coca-cola, it's called 食物中毒, food poisoning. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T10:43:39.073Z
But I mean literal drowning. Like, you fall into a huge tub filled with coca-cola, petrol or whatnot.
MrVocabulary
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T11:00:41.487Z
@MrVocabulary It's impossible to get drown in Coca-cola, so there is no such word to describe that in Chinese. You can use 离奇死亡 or 意外牺牲 which means getting killed in an accident. For people whom are drown in love (Not really dying or in real danger), then you can say : 他堕入爱河, falling in the river of love.
Atmega 328
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T11:17:09.340Z
I see. It's interesting that you say it’s impossible. I've witnessed a rat drown in coffee ;) But I get what you mean.
MrVocabulary
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T10:27:46.590Z
2017-09-22T10:27:46.590Z
Atmega 328
<p>他掉进了一大缸可口可乐里面溺死了。 He fell in a big vat of coca-cola and drowned.<br>
(That should make the cola taste piquant.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T23:39:47.170Z
2017-09-22T23:39:47.170Z
Pedroski
<p>Can I use "溺水" for liquids other than water? How would you say: he drowned in Coca-cola?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-22T11:17:31.607Z
I wonder what was the reason for downvote.
MrVocabulary
<word-choice>
Does 溺水 only mean "to drown" in relation to water?
# Does 溺水 only mean "to drown" in relation to water?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-22)

Can I use "溺水" for liquids other than water? How would you say: he drowned in Coca-cola?

**Tags:** word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I wonder what was the reason for downvote.  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-09-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

溺 is a formal word.

淹 is a colloquial word in daily usage.

For example, 淹死；老鼠淹死在可乐里面了（for your case）；小心别被（水）淹到；淹死你！；

These are the sentences that are used often in practice.

There are some set phrases: ...被...淹了； ...让...淹了； For example, 老鼠**被**可乐**淹了**；蔬菜**让**水**淹了**；

There is another phrase 淹没 meaning overwhelm. For example, 他被淹没了 means he is overwhelmed.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-09-22. Score: 3

Although you can not say 溺可乐, you can say 溺死在可乐中, which is more romantic anyway.

溺于可乐 is acceptable, because now it is not a fixed word but a sentence.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-09-22. Score: 1

No, you can't. For people whom are unfortunate and stupid to be deceased causing by coca-cola, it's called 食物中毒, food poisoning.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: But I mean literal drowning. Like, you fall into a huge tub filled with coca-cola, petrol or whatnot.  
> **username_3**: @username_0 It's impossible to get drown in Coca-cola, so there is no such word to describe that in Chinese. You can use 离奇死亡 or 意外牺牲 which means getting killed in an accident. For people whom are drown in love (Not really dying or in real danger), then you can say : 他堕入爱河, falling in the river of love.  
> **username_0**: I see. It's interesting that you say it’s impossible. I've witnessed a rat drown in coffee ;) But I get what you mean.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2017-09-22. Score: 1

他掉进了一大缸可口可乐里面溺死了。 He fell in a big vat of coca-cola and drowned.  
(That should make the cola taste piquant.)


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