伫立 (zhù lì) — to stand still for a long time (literary)

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to stand still for a long time,' often with a reflective, solemn, or sorrowful mood. Unlike everyday 站 (zhàn), it implies lingering on, not briefly standing.

verb
to stand still for a long time (literary)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 伫立，。
    Tā zhù lì zài chuāng qián, jiǔ jiǔ bù yǔ.
    He stood by the window for a long time, silent.
  • 伫立，。
    Lǎo rén zhù lì zài mù qián, huí yì zhe wǎng shì.
    The old man stood still before the grave, recalling the past.
  • 伫立，。
    Tā zhù lì zài yǔ zhōng, rèn píng yǔ shuǐ dǎ shī yī shang.
    She stood still in the rain, letting the rain soak her clothes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

伫zhùstand still
立lìstand

"伫" and "立" both mean standing, so the sense is standing still for a long time.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 佇; 伫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
宁
宁níng佇zhù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 佇 combines 人, meaning man, with 宁, which gives the sound; the simplified 伫 is a later shorthand.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

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