About
The character "染" finds its etymological origins in the tangible act of dyeing, with its structure visually encoding the process through the water radical (氵) indicating the liquid medium, the element for wood (木) denoting the source of plant-based dyes, and the component for nine (九) conventionally implying multiple or repeated actions, such as successive dippings. Its primary meaning was strictly anchored in the coloring of textiles, but over centuries, this core concept underwent a natural semantic extension, allowing it to acquire additional layers of meaning including staining, contracting illnesses, and being influenced by or acquiring customs, thus reflecting a shift from a specific physical action to a wider range of natural and figurative applications.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
她染了红指甲。
这件衣服容易染色。
他感染了感冒。
河流被污染了。
环境污染很严重。
他的笑容感染了大家。
为了避免感染病毒,我们要洗手。
这种新型染料能染出鲜艳的颜色。