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堆积 (duī jī) — to pile up, to heap up; to accumulate

Definition

堆积 focuses on physical mass — things piled up in a heap (goods, leaves, work). Use 积累/积攒/累积 for abstract, gradual accumulation over time (experience, money).

verb
to pile upto heap upto accumulate

Examples

  • 堆积。
    Cāng kù lǐ duī jī le hěn duō huò wù.
    A lot of goods have piled up in the warehouse.
  • 堆积，。
    Zuì jìn gōng zuò duī jī, wǒ dōu méi shí jiān xiū xi.
    Work has piled up recently, and I haven't had time to rest.
  • 堆积。
    Shù yè zài yuàn zi lǐ duī jī qǐ lái.
    Leaves have piled up in the yard.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

堆duīpile
积jīaccumulate

堆 and 积 both mean to heap or accumulate, so the word means pile up.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
隹
隹zhuī堆duī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

堆 is built from 土 (earth) and 隹, which supplies the sound.

Open 堆 →

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 積; 积 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
責
責zé積jī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 積 pairs 禾 (grain) with 責, which gives the sound; the simplified 积 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 积 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Order & Arrangement

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