湍急 (tuān jí) — rapid, rushing (of water current) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

adjective

rapidrushing (of water current)

Examples

湍急，。
Zhè tiáo hé shuǐ liú tuān jí, fēi cháng wēi xiǎn.
The current of this river is rapid and very dangerous.
湍急。
tuān jí De jiāng shuǐ chōng zǒu le àn biān de shí tou.
The rushing river water washed away the stones on the bank.
，湍急。
Bào yǔ guò hòu, shān lǐ de xī shuǐ biàn de tuān jí qǐ lái.
After the heavy rain, the mountain stream became rapid.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

湍 and 急 both suggest swift, rushing force; together they describe a rapid current.

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

耑

耑zhuān湍

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

湍 pairs 水 (water) with 耑, which gives the sound.

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

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

及

及jí急jí

Same sound today

急 pairs 心 (heart) with 及, which gives the sound.

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