细流 (xì liú) — trickle; small stream | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

tricklesmall stream

Measure word · 条

细流。
Shān jiān de xì liú zhōng nián bú duàn.
The trickle in the mountains flows all year round.
细流。
Zhè tiáo xì liú huì rù le dà hé.
This small stream merges into the big river.
，细流。
Gān hàn jì jié, xì liú jī hū gān hé.
During the dry season, the trickle nearly dries up.

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.

细 means thin or small, and 流 means flow or stream, giving a small stream or trickle.

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 細; 细 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

囟

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

The traditional form 細 pairs 糸, silk or thread, with 囟 for the sound. The simplified 细 is a later shorthand, and the old right part changed shape.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

㐬

㐬㐬流liú

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

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.