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填 (tián) — to fill (a hole, container, etc.); to fill in (a form, document)

Definition

填 is the base verb 'to fill': a container with something, or a blank on a form. The set phrase 填写 is the standard word for filling in forms; 填补 and 填充 are more formal for filling gaps.

verb
to fill (a hole, container, etc.)to fill in (a form, document)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 填。
    Qǐng tián yí xià zhè zhāng biǎo gé.
    Please fill out this form.
  • 填。
    Tā bǎ píng zi tián mǎn le shuǐ.
    He filled the bottle with water.
  • 填。
    Qǐng tián shàng nǐ de dì zhǐ.
    Please fill in your address.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
真
真zhēn填
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

填 combines 土 (soil) with 真, which gives the sound.

Appears in
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