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点滴 (diǎn dī) — a small amount; a bit; droplet; intravenous drip; IV drip

Definition

At HSK 7, 点滴 most often means 'small bits / details' in an abstract sense (e.g., 生活中的点滴). It also means a physical droplet, and in a hospital, 打点滴 is the everyday phrase for getting an IV drip.

noun
a small amounta bitdropletintravenous dripIV drip
Measure word · 滴

Examples

  • 点滴。
    Zhè xiē dōu shì bǎo guì de jīng yàn diǎn dī.
    These are precious bits of experience.
  • 点滴。
    Hé yè shàng de diǎn dī xiàng zhēn zhū yí yàng.
    The droplets on the lotus leaf are like pearls.
  • ，。
    Tā bìng le, zài yī yuàn dǎ diǎn dī.
    He's sick and is receiving an IV drip at the hospital.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

点diǎndot
滴dīdrop

“点” and “滴” both refer to tiny drops or amounts, so together they mean a droplet or a little bit.

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 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →

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
水水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
啻
啻chì滴dī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

滴 has 水, meaning water, on the left, and 啻 on the right, which tells how it sounds.

Open 滴 →
Appears in
Medicine & Treatment

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