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

The character "坠" originates from its traditional form "墜", which is structurally composed of the radical "阝", an abbreviation for "阜" representing an earthen mound or height, combined with the phonetic and semantic component "隊", which itself initially depicted objects falling from a height. This composition clearly conveys the core idea of a downward fall or drop from an elevated place. Over time, its meaning expanded from the literal physical act of falling to encompass more abstract notions such as decline, downfall, or hanging loosely, as seen in terms for a pendant or a weight. The modern simplified form "坠" retains the left radical "阝" but replaces the complex right side with the simpler "土" (earth), a graphic alteration that maintains the conceptual link to falling to the ground while streamlining the character for writing.

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.