About
The character "地", meaning earth, ground, or place, derives from a compound structure combining the semantic component 土 (tǔ), which represents soil or earth, with 也 (yě), which originally depicted a serpent but in this context functioned primarily as a phonetic indicator, though its role may also have conveyed a sense of extension or expanse. This formation created a character conceptually linking the tangible substance of soil to the broader idea of land or terrain. Over time, its meaning expanded beyond the physical earth to encompass more abstract territorial and locational concepts, such as a region, a place, or even a situational context, as seen in terms like 地方 (dìfang, place) or 地位 (dìwèi, status). Its traditional form is identical to its modern standard form, as this particular character was not subject to graphical simplification in the modern era.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他慢慢地走。
我们喜欢这个地方。
她高兴地笑了。
地球是美丽的。
他仔细地阅读了那本书。
在寒冷的冬天，大地被雪覆盖。
当我们到达目的地时，天已经黑了。
他毫不犹豫地接受了这个挑战。