嘀 (dī) — used in 嘀咕

Definition

嘀 is a bound character with no standalone meaning — it appears only in the verb 嘀咕, which means to mutter, mumble, or grumble quietly to oneself.

bound form
used in 嘀咕
Easily confused

Examples

  • ？
    Tā yì zhí zài dí gu shén me?
    What has he been muttering about?
  • ，。
    Bié dí gu le, kuài shuō ba.
    Stop mumbling and just say it.
  • 。
    Tā dí gu le jǐ jù jiù zǒu le.
    She muttered a few words and left.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
啇
啇dí嘀
Same sound today

嘀 uses 口 (mouth) to show it is related to the mouth, and 啇 to give the sound dí.

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