碧水 (bì shuǐ) — clear blue water (literary, poetic)

Definition

Literary/poetic term for clear, jade-green water — used in writing or scenic description, not everyday speech.

noun

clear blue water (literary, poetic)

碧水，。
Hú miàn bì shuǐ dàng yàng, jǐng sè rú huà.
The clear blue water ripples on the lake, and the scenery is picturesque.
碧水，。
bì shuǐ Lán tiān, ràng rén xīn kuàng shén yí.
The clear blue water and blue sky make one feel relaxed and happy.
碧水，。
Zhè lǐ bì shuǐ huán rào, shì gè dù jià de hǎo dì fāng.
This place is surrounded by clear blue water — a great spot for a vacation.

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.

碧bìblue-green

The 碧 'blue-green' colors 水 'water', naming clear blue water.

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.

王石白碧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

王Written in full as玉yùjade

石石shístone

Sound part声符shēngfú

白

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

碧 combines 王 (jade, written fully as 玉) and 石 (stone), with 白 giving the sound.

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.