雪

xuě

彐 + 雨

HSK 2.0Level 2

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

xuě (noun) snow

xuě (verb) to wipe away; to clear

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 雨 represents the meaning and 彗 represents the sound.

Semantic: 雨 Phonetic: 彐

About

雪 is a phonosemantic compound: the 雨 radical gives the meaning "rain, precipitation", while the lower component, originally 彗 (a broom, now simplified to 彐), supplies the sound. Its primary sense is "snow", and extended meanings include "snow-white" and "to wipe clean", as in clearing one's name or a disgrace.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

今天正在下雪。

Jīntiān zhèngzài xià xuě.

It is snowing today.

雪是白色的。

Xuě shì báisè de.

Snow is white.

地上覆盖着雪。

Dìshàng fùgàizhe xuě.

The ground is covered with snow.

孩子们在玩雪。

Háizimen zài wán xuě.

The children are playing in the snow.

雪花从天上飘落。

Xuěhuā cóng tiānshàng piāoluò.

Snowflakes are falling from the sky.

他非常喜欢滑雪运动。

Tā fēicháng xǐhuān huáxuě yùndòng.

He really likes skiing sports.

大雪过后，城市变得安静。

Dà xuě guòhòu, chéngshì biàn de ānjìng.

After the heavy snow, the city becomes quiet.

雪是由水蒸气凝固而成的。

Xuě shì yóu shuǐzhēngqì nínggù ér chéng de.

Snow is formed by water vapor solidifying.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 彐

Component: 雨

Example Words