Definitions

(verb) to draw (water)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "汲" is a phono-semantic compound formed by the water radical on the left and the component "及" on the right, with the radical indicating its association with liquid and the phonetic element providing sound while also implying the action of reaching or obtaining. Etymologically, this structure originally conveyed the concrete meaning of drawing water from a well or other source, reflecting a direct physical activity. Over centuries, its application expanded metaphorically to encompass abstract processes like absorbing knowledge or deriving inspiration, indicating a shift from tangible to intellectual contexts. Throughout this semantic evolution, the character's graphical composition has remained consistent, preserving its visual connection to the core concept of drawing from a resource.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

农民从河里水。

Nóngmín cóng hé lǐ jí shuǐ.

Farmers draw water from the river.

每天早晨,她都去井边水。

Měitiān zǎochén, tā dōu qù jǐng biān jí shuǐ.

Every morning, she goes to the well to draw water.

植物从土壤中取水分。

Zhíwù cóng tǔrǎng zhōng jíqǔ shuǐfèn.

Plants absorb moisture from the soil.

我们从经验中取教训。

Wǒmen cóng jīngyàn zhōng jíqǔ jiàoxun.

We learn lessons from experience.

了一桶水来浇花。

Tā jí le yī tǒng shuǐ lái jiāo huā.

He drew a bucket of water to water the flowers.

她先水,然后烧水喝茶。

Tā xiān jí shuǐ, ránhòu shāo shuǐ hē chá.

She first draws water, then boils it to drink tea.

在干旱地区,人们必须每天长途跋涉去水。

Zài gānhàn dìqū, rénmen bìxū měitiān chángtú báshè qù jí shuǐ.

In arid regions, people must trek long distances every day to draw water.

通过阅读,我们可以取古今中外的智慧。

Tōngguò yuèdú, wǒmen kěyǐ jíqǔ gǔjīn zhōngwài de zhìhuì.

Through reading, we can draw wisdom from all ages and cultures.