雨露 (yǔ lù) — rain and dew; (figurative) favor, grace, blessings

Definition

Literary/figurative term for 'favor, grace, blessings' — evokes life-giving rain and dew bestowed by a superior (leader, emperor) on those below. Mostly appears in the set phrase 雨露之恩. Rarely used literally.

noun
rain and dew(figurative) favorgraceblessings
Easily confused

Examples

  • 雨露。
    Chūn tiān de yǔ lù zī rùn le dà dì.
    The spring rain and dew nourish the earth.
  • 雨露。
    Tā gǎn jī lǐng dǎo de yǔ lù zhī ēn.
    He is grateful for the favor of his leader.
  • 雨露。
    Bǎi xìng mù yù zài huáng shang de yǔ lù zhī xià.
    The people bathe in the emperor's grace.

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.

雨yǔrain
露lùdew

雨 and 露 are rain and dew, together suggesting favor.

Characters in this word

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

The shape 雨 is an old picture of a cloud with rain drops falling from it; the top line was added later.

Open 雨 →

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
雨雨yǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
路
路lù露lù
Same sound today

露 pairs 雨, a rain-related meaning part, with 路, a sound part.

Open 露 →

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