Definitions

to wash; to cleanse

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "涤", whose traditional form is "滌", originates from the concept of washing or cleansing, as clearly indicated by its water radical (氵). Its etymology is tied to the action of removing impurities, with the right-hand component in the traditional character, "條", serving a primarily phonetic function while also carrying a connotation of order or stripping away. Over centuries, its core meaning of physical cleansing, as in washing away dirt from objects, expanded metaphorically to encompass the purification of abstract concepts, such as one's mind or heart. The modern simplified form "涤" retains the essential water radical but replaces the complex phonetic element with the simpler "条", preserving the character's fundamental semantic core while altering its compositional structure.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这件衣服需要洗

Zhè jiàn yīfu xūyào xǐdí.

This piece of clothing needs washing.

她用纶面料做裙子。

Tā yòng dílún miànliào zuò qúnzi.

She used polyester fabric to make a skirt.

洗衣机正在洗衣物。

Xǐyījī zhèngzài díxǐ yīwù.

The washing machine is laundering the clothes.

清风荡了夏日的闷热。

Qīngfēng dídàng le xiàrì de mēnrè.

The fresh breeze cleansed the stifling summer heat.

他的心灵被忏悔净了。

Tā de xīnlíng bèi chànhuǐ díjìng le.

His soul was cleansed by repentance.

这种洗洁精能有效除油污。

Zhè zhǒng xǐjiéjīng néng yǒuxiào díchú yóuwū.

This detergent can effectively remove grease stains.

我们要除思想中的糟粕。

Wǒmen yào díchú sīxiǎng zhōng de zāopò.

We must eliminate the dross from our thinking.

该工厂致力于清工业废水。

Gāi gōngchǎng zhìlì yú díqīng gōngyè fèishuǐ.

The factory is dedicated to purifying industrial wastewater.