About
The character "淀" has its origins in concepts related to water and settling, a meaning directly reflected in its structure which combines the water radical (氵) with the phonetic and semantic component "定", suggesting a sense of becoming fixed or stable. Its core etymological meaning pertains to shallow water or, more actively, the process of sedimentation where particles settle out of liquid. This gave rise to its use in words concerning sediment or dregs, a meaning historically and more explicitly carried by its traditional form "澱", which features an additional water radical at the top. Over time, the character also became applied to geographical features, specifically denoting shallow lakes or wetlands, as seen in its use in place names such as Baiyangdian, a large lake region in Hebei, demonstrating a natural extension from the concept of settled, calm waters to the bodies of water themselves.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
湖水在淀里很清澈。
淀边有棵古老的柳树。
时间能沉淀智慧与经验。
他需要沉淀下来认真思考。
这种食物富含淀粉。
杯底有少量白色沉淀物。
白洋淀是华北的著名湿地。
地壳运动使古老的湖泊沉积岩得以淀积。