Definitions

(adjective) quiet; silent
(adjective) lonely; solitary

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

Constructed as a phono-semantic compound, 寂 uses the semantic roof radical 宀 at the top, indicating a house or enclosed space. The lower portion, 叙, provides the phonetic element. The character originally described the quiet, still atmosphere of an empty dwelling. This concrete sense of a silent space later expanded to include emotional states of loneliness and desolation. The structure thus grounds the abstract feeling of isolation within the tangible image of a quiet, unoccupied house.

Example Sentences Hide

这里很静。

Zhèlǐ hěn jìjìng.

It is very quiet here.

夜晚非常静。

Yèwǎn fēicháng jìjìng.

The night is very quiet.

他感到有点寞。

Tā gǎndào yǒudiǎn jìmò.

He feels a bit lonely.

这个房间静无声。

Zhège fángjiān jìjìng wú shēng.

This room is completely silent.

寞的时候,我喜欢看书。

Jìmò de shíhòu, wǒ xǐhuān kànshū.

When I feel lonely, I like to read books.

深山的静让人感到平静。

Shēnshān de jìjìng ràng rén gǎndào píngjìng.

The silence of the deep mountains makes people feel calm.

寥的冬日,他常常回忆往事。

Zài jìliáo de dōngrì, tā chángcháng huíyì wǎngshì.

In the desolate winter days, he often recalls the past.

尽管城市喧嚣,但他的内心却始终保持着一份静。

Jǐnguǎn chéngshì xuānxiāo, dàn tā de nèixīn què shǐzhōng bǎochízhe yī fèn jìjìng.

Despite the city's noise, his heart always maintains a silence.