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池 (chí) — pool, pond

Definition

A natural or artificial body of still water. Pairs with 塘 as the set noun 池塘 ('pond'); used alone 池 emphasizes a pool or reservoir, often in compound words like 游泳池.

noun
poolpond
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè ge chí táng hěn dà.
    This pond is very big.
  • 。
    chí Táng lǐ yǒu hěn duō yú.
    There are many fish in the pond.
  • 。
    chí Táng biān de huā hěn piào liang.
    The flowers by the pond are very beautiful.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě池chí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

池 pairs 氵 (water) with 也, which provides the sound.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Geography & Landforms

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