嘀

dī, dí
口 + 啇

Definitions

dī (onomatopoeia) sound of dripping or ticking

Etymology phono-semantic

mouth

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 啇

About

嘀 (dí) is a phono-semantic compound that functions primarily as an onomatopoeia for various short, repetitive, or mechanical sounds. The left-side mouth radical 口 (kǒu) indicates the character's link to sound and vocalization. On the right, the phonetic 滴 (dī) gives the pronunciation and visually mimics a drop of liquid, suggesting the rhythmic nature of the sound. The character frequently denotes low murmuring or muttering, and in modern times it has been widely adopted for electronic beeps, car horns, and digital alerts, reflecting its evolution alongside technology.

Example Sentences Hide

时钟在嘀嗒响。

shí zhōng zài dī dā xiǎng.

The clock is ticking.

他嘀咕了几句。

tā dí gu le jǐ jù.

He muttered a few words.

雨水嘀嗒地下着。

yǔ shuǐ dī dā de xià zhe.

The rain is falling drip by drip.

我心里嘀咕着这件事。

wǒ xīn lǐ dí gu zhe zhè jiàn shì.

I am muttering about this matter in my heart.

嘀嗒声陪伴我入睡。

dī dā shēng péi bàn wǒ rù shuì.

The ticking sound accompanies me to sleep.

他独自嘀咕，没人理会。

tā dú zì dí gu, méi rén lǐ huì.

He muttered alone, and no one paid attention.

嘀嘀嗒嗒的雨声令人放松。

dī dī dā dā de yǔ shēng lìng rén fàng sōng.

The pitter-patter of rain is relaxing.

她嘀咕着不满，但不敢大声说。

tā dí gu zhe bù mǎn, dàn bù gǎn dà shēng shuō.

She muttered her dissatisfaction, but didn't dare to speak loudly.

Related Characters

Component: 口

中 和 可 后 如 同 只 知 高 问 向 或 加 合

Component: 啇

滴 摘 嫡 谪 適 镝 敵 甋 謫 蹢 鏑

Example Words

嘀咕 嘀嗒 犯嘀咕