死死 (sǐ sǐ) — firmly, tightly, stubbornly (adverb, connoting persistence or desperation)

Definition

死死 is a bound adverb meaning 'firmly / tightly / fixedly' — it must be attached to a verb (often before it or marked with 的) to intensify a persistent, desperate action.

bound form
firmlytightlystubbornly (adverb, connoting persistence or desperation)

Examples

  • 死死。
    Tā sǐ sǐ zhuā zhù shéng zi bú fàng.
    He held onto the rope tightly and wouldn't let go.
  • 。
    Tā sǐ sǐ de dīng zhe diàn nǎo píng mù.
    She stared fixedly at the computer screen.
  • 死死，。
    Tā sǐ sǐ yǎo zhù zuǐ chún, yì shēng bù kēng.
    He bit his lip tightly and didn't utter a word.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

死sǐdead; fixed
死sǐdead; fixed

The two 死 together intensify the sense of being fixed and unyielding.

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
歹歹dǎi
Sound part声符shēngfú
尸
尸shī死sǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

死 is built from 歹 and 尸: 歹 is the part tied to the meaning, and 尸 gives the sound.

Open 死 →

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
歹歹dǎi
Sound part声符shēngfú
尸
尸shī死sǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

死 is built from 歹 and 尸: 歹 is the part tied to the meaning, and 尸 gives the sound.

Open 死 →

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