Objective To explore the effect of health education based on semantic graphic tools on preventing aspiration in esophageal cancer patients after radical resection. Methods A total of 253 esophageal cancer patients undergoing radical resection were divided into a control group （n=127） and an intervention group （n=126） chronologically.The control group received health education via slides, while the intervention group received health education through semantic graphic tools.The scores of aspiration preventing knowledge, attitude and practice, as well as the score of aspiration risk and the incidence of aspiration between the two groups were compared. Results After the intervention, the three subscale scores of aspiration preventing knowledge, attitude and practice and the total scale score were significantly higher, whereas the score of aspiration risk was significantly lower in the intervention group than those in the control group （P＜0.01 for all）.The score of aspiration risk on the 3rd day after enteral nutrition and the 3rd day of oral feeding in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the incidence of aspiration during hospitalization was also significantly lower than that in the control group （P＜0.05，P＜0.01）. Conclusion The health education model based on semantic graphic tools is conducive to improving patients′ aspiration preventing know-ledge, attitude and practice level, reducing their risk of postoperative aspiration and decreasing the incidence of complications.