泪 (lèi) — tears
Definition
A formal, written-style word for tears. In everyday speech, prefer 眼泪 (more common) or 泪水 (more literary/emotional).
noun
tears
Measure word · 滴
Examples
- 泪。Tā de liǎn shàng dōu shì lèi.His face was covered in tears.
- 泪。Tā cā gān le zì jǐ de lèi.She dried her own tears.
- ，泪。Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā liú xià le jī dòng de lèi.Hearing this news, he shed tears of excitement.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 淚; 泪 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
戾
戾lì淚lèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 淚 uses 水 (water) and 戾 for sound; this describes 淚, not 泪.
Appears in
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