轻轻地 (qīng qīng de) — gently, softly, lightly

Definition

轻轻地 is the adverbial form of 轻 ('light'), used to soften a verb — 'gently, lightly, softly'. The 地 attaches the adjective to the verb; without 地 the sentence sounds stilted or only modifies nouns.

adjective
gentlysoftlylightly

Examples

  • 轻轻地。
    Tā qīng qīng de pāi le pāi wǒ de jiān bǎng.
    She gently patted my shoulder.
  • 轻轻地，。
    Fēng qīng qīng de chuī guò, shù yè shā shā zuò xiǎng.
    The wind blew gently, making the leaves rustle.
  • 轻轻地。
    Tā bǎ bēi zi qīng qīng de fàng zài zhuō shàng.
    He placed the cup gently on the table.

Origin

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →

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