生水 (shēng shuǐ) — unboiled water (tap water that has not been boiled)

Definition

Refers to tap or well water that has not been boiled — i.e. raw, untreated water considered unsafe to drink. Pairs with 开水 ('boiled water').

noun
unboiled water (tap water that has not been boiled)

Examples

  • 生水，。
    Tā cóng lái bù hē shēng shuǐ, yí dìng yào shāo kāi le zài hē.
    He never drinks unboiled water; he always boils it first.
  • 生水？
    Yòng shēng shuǐ zhǔ fàn huì bú huì yǐng xiǎng kǒu gǎn?
    Will cooking rice with unboiled water affect the taste?
  • 生水，。
    Yī shēng jiàn yì bú yào zhí jiē yǐn yòng shēng shuǐ, yǐ miǎn cháng wèi bú shì.
    The doctor advises not to drink unboiled water directly to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

生shēngraw/unboiled
水shuǐwater

'生' (raw/unboiled) specifies '水' (water) as not boiled.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →

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