滴 (dī) — (verb) to drip; (classifier) a drop (of liquid)
Definition
A small drop of liquid, or the slow dripping of a drop. Unlike 掉 (to fall / drop / lose), 滴 refers to liquid only and is also used as a measure word for drops.
verb
to drip
classifier
a drop (of liquid)
Examples
- 滴。Cài lǐ jiā le jǐ dī yóu.I added a few drops of oil to the dish.
- 。Shuǐ lóng tóu zài dī shuǐ.The faucet is dripping water.
- 滴。Tā de hàn dī dào le dì shàng.His sweat dripped onto the ground.
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.
Sound part声符shēngfú
啻
啻chì滴dī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
滴 has 水, meaning water, on the left, and 啻 on the right, which tells how it sounds.
Appears in
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