Definitions

zhuì to fall; to drop; to weigh down

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

坠 is the simplified form of the traditional character 墜, a phono-semantic compound conveying the concept of falling toward the ground. The lower component is the earth radical 土, which grounds the meaning in the physical surface. The upper component 队 provides the phonetic element in the simplified structure. Its core meaning is the heavy downward motion of falling from a height to the ground. This sense extends to describe objects that hang down, like pendants. Metaphorically, it also conveys a steep decline in status, a plunge into misfortune, or the collapse of something’s structure.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

苹果从树上落。

Píngguǒ cóng shù shàng zhuìluò.

The apple fell from the tree.

一颗流星入夜空。

Yī kē liúxīng zhuìrù yèkōng.

A meteor fell into the night sky.

他的飞机模型毁了。

Tā de fēijī móxíng zhuìhuǐ le.

His model airplane crashed.

水晶吊灯从天花板落。

Shuǐjīng diàodēng cóng tiānhuābǎn zhuìluò.

The crystal chandelier fell from the ceiling.

他不慎入了冰冷的湖中。

Tā bùshèn zhuìrùle bīnglěng de hú zhōng.

He accidentally fell into the icy lake.

梦想破灭,他的心不断下

Mèngxiǎng pòmiè, tā de xīn bùduàn xià zhuì.

With his dream shattered, his heart kept sinking.

这场空难的机原因正在调查。

Zhè chǎng kōngnàn de zhuìjī yuányīn zhèngzài diàochá.

The cause of this air disaster's crash is under investigation.

她的笑容让我心谷底,无比沉重。

Tā de xiàoróng ràng wǒ xīn zhuì gǔdǐ, wúbǐ chénzhòng.

Her smile made my heart sink to the bottom of a valley, unbearably heavy.