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积淀 (jī diàn) — (verb) to accumulate over time; to build up (cultural heritage, experience, etc.); (noun) accumulated deposits; (fig.) legacy, accumulated wisdom

Definition

积淀 (jīdiàn) emphasizes culture, wisdom, or experience slowly settled and deepened over long time — more abstract than 积累 ('accumulate' in general). As a noun it means the accumulated legacy itself, distinct from 遗产 (inherited estate/bequest).

verb
to accumulate over timeto build up (cultural heritage, experience, etc.)
noun
accumulated deposits(fig.) legacyaccumulated wisdom

Examples

  • ，积淀。
    Jīng guò jǐ bǎi nián de chén diàn, zhè ge dì qū jī diàn le dú tè de yì shù fēng gé.
    After centuries of sedimentation, this region has accumulated a unique artistic style.
  • 积淀。
    Zhè zhǒng shēn hòu de wén huà jī diàn shì zǔ xiān liú gěi wǒ men de cái fù.
    This profound cultural heritage is a treasure left to us by our ancestors.
  • 积淀。
    Tā jǐ shí nián de gōng zuò jī diàn ràng tā chéng wéi háng yè de quán wēi.
    Decades of work experience have made him an authority in the industry.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

积jīaccumulate
淀diàndeposit

“积” (accumulate) and “淀” (deposit) both describe settling or building up over time.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 積; 积 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
責
責zé積jī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 積 pairs 禾 (grain) with 責, which gives the sound; the simplified 积 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 积 →

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

淀 pairs 水 (water) with 定, which gives its sound.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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