Abstract: In order to study the influence of internal soft rock water absorption on the strength of soft rockfill concrete during pouring and working in water environment, sandstone in red bed area was selected as rockfill material, and soft rock rockfill concrete unit specimens were designed and prepared. The water content and compressive strength tests were carried out on the test groups with different soaking time. The results show that compared with the self-compacting concrete specimens, the soft rock rockfill concrete unit specimens have stronger continuous water absorption capacity and higher saturated water content. The water absorption rate of the internal soft rock is 2 ~ 3.5 times that of the internal self-compacting concrete in the same area. The failure of soft rock rockfill concrete unit specimen under wet condition mostly occurs in the external concrete, and the fracture surface after drying mostly penetrates the soft rock. In the soaking environment, its strength remained stable after 2 days and did not continue to be ' weakened ' due to soaking. The research results are helpful to understand the compressive strength characteristics of soft rock rockfill concrete in water environment, and provide theoretical and practical guidance for its engineering application.