渎 (dú) — (bound form) water channel, ditch (used in classical contexts and place names); (bound form) disrespectful, contemptuous; negligent (in compounds like 渎职, 渎神)
Definition
A classical/literary bound form with two distinct uses: 沟渎 means water channel or ditch; 渎职, 渎神 mean disrespectful or negligent.
bound form
water channelditch (used in classical contexts and place names)disrespectfulcontemptuousnegligent (in compounds like 渎职, 渎神)
Examples
- 渎。Gǔ dài chēng cháng jiāng wèi jiāng dú.In ancient times, the Yangtze River was called the Jiang Du.
- 。Tā yīn wèi dú zhí bèi miǎn qù le zhí wù.He was removed from his post for neglect of duty.
- 渎。Zhè běn shū bèi pī píng wèi dú shén zhī zuò.This book was criticized as a work of blasphemy.
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 瀆; 渎 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
𧶠
𧶠𧶠瀆dú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 瀆 uses 水 to show water and 𧶠 to give the sound; the simplified 渎 is a shorthand.
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