液

yè

夜 + 氵

Definitions

yè (noun) liquid; fluid

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 夜 represents the sound.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 夜

About

The character 液 is a phonosemantic compound: the water radical 氵 (shuǐ) on the left signals its association with liquids and moisture, while the right-side component 夜 (yè, 'night') serves purely as a phonetic marker and contributes no meaning. It thus denotes any liquid or fluid as distinct from solids and gases, and is used widely in scientific, medical, and everyday language for bodily fluids, chemical solutions, sap, and other flowing, water-like substances.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

杯子里有透明的液体。

Bēizi lǐ yǒu tòumíng de yètǐ.

There is transparent liquid in the cup.

血液在身体里流动。

Xuèyè zài shēntǐ lǐ liúdòng.

Blood flows in the body.

化学老师配置了溶液。

Huàxué lǎoshī pèizhì le róngyè.

The chemistry teacher prepared a solution.

厨房里使用液化气。

Chúfáng lǐ shǐyòng yèhuàqì.

The kitchen uses liquefied gas.

运动后要补充体液。

Yùndòng hòu yào bǔchōng tǐyè.

After exercise, you need to replenish bodily fluids.

这种药物的液体形式更容易吸收。

Zhè zhǒng yàowù de yètǐ xíngshì gèng róngyì xīshōu.

The liquid form of this medicine is easier to absorb.

实验室里存放着各种化学液体。

Shíyànshì lǐ cúnfàng zhe gè zhǒng huàxué yètǐ.

Various chemical liquids are stored in the laboratory.

通过离心机分离血液中的不同成分。

Tōngguò líxīnjī fēnlí xuèyè zhōng de bùtóng chéngfèn.

Separate different components in blood through a centrifuge.

Related Characters

Component: 夜

Component: 氵

液