滴

dī

啇 + 氵

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

dī (verb) to drip; to drop

dī (noun) drop (of liquid)

Etymology

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

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 啇

About

滴 is a phono-semantic compound that serves as both a noun (a drop) and a verb (to drip). It combines the water radical 氵, a simplified form of 水 (shuǐ) on the left, signifying liquid, and the phonetic component 啇 (dí) on the right, which provides the pronunciation. The character captures the action of liquid falling in drops, referring to the dripping of rain, sweat, tears, or other fluids. It also serves as a measure word for small amounts of liquid dispensed drop by drop.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

水滴滴在石头上。

shuǐ dī dī zài shí tóu shang.

Water drips onto the stone.

雨水从屋檐滴下。

yǔ shuǐ cóng wū yán dī xià.

Rainwater drips from the eaves.

请滴几滴眼药水。

qǐng dī jǐ dī yǎn yào shuǐ.

Please put a few drops of eye drops.

他听到时钟的滴答声。

tā tīng dào shí zhōng de dī dā shēng.

He heard the ticking sound of the clock.

她的眼泪一滴一滴地落下。

tā de yǎn lèi yī dī yī dī de luò xià.

Her tears fell drop by drop.

这种滴灌技术非常节水。

zhè zhǒng dī guàn jì shù fēi cháng jié shuǐ.

This drip irrigation technology is very water-saving.

医生仔细分析着每一滴血液样本。

yī shēng zǐ xì fēn xī zhe měi yī dī xuè yè yàng běn.

The doctor carefully analyzes every drop of the blood sample.

这个实验要求试剂的剂量精确到每一滴。

zhè ge shí yàn yāo qiú shì jì de jì liàng jīng què dào měi yī dī.

This experiment requires the dosage of the reagent to be precise to every drop.

Related Characters

Component: 啇

Component: 氵

滴