瑟瑟 (sè sè) — (onomatopoeia) rustling sound (of wind, leaves); trembling, shivering (in 瑟瑟发抖)

Definition

Onomatopoeia for a soft rustling (wind, leaves), and by extension the shivering that goes with cold (瑟瑟发抖). It is a literary, descriptive word — use it in writing rather than casual speech.

onomatopoeia
rustling sound (of wind, leaves)tremblingshivering (in 瑟瑟发抖)

Examples

  • 瑟瑟瑟瑟，。
    Qiū fēng sè sè sè sè, luò yè piāo líng.
    The autumn wind rustles, falling leaves drift down.
  • 瑟瑟瑟瑟。
    Tā dòng dé sè sè sè sè fā dǒu.
    He is shivering with cold.
  • 瑟瑟瑟瑟。
    Chuāng wài chuán lái sè sè sè sè de fēng shēng.
    From outside the window came the rustling sound of wind.

Origin

Single-morpheme word
构词法gòucífǎ
叠音diéyīnRepeated syllable

One syllable written twice as a single unit of meaning; neither half stands alone.

瑟sè
瑟sè

The repeated 瑟 carries no meaning of its own here; together they suggest a rustling or trembling sound.

Sound-only characters

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
珡珡qínmusical instrument
Sound part声符shēngfú
必
必bì瑟sè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape of 瑟 combines 珡, a musical-instrument part, with 必 to give the sound.

Open 瑟 →

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
珡珡qínmusical instrument
Sound part声符shēngfú
必
必bì瑟sè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape of 瑟 combines 珡, a musical-instrument part, with 必 to give the sound.

Open 瑟 →

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