淀

澱

diàn

定 + 氵

Definitions

diàn (bound form) shallow lake (usu. in place names)

diàn to form sediment; to precipitate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 定 represents the sound. Simplified form of 澱.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 定

About

淀 is a phono-semantic compound: the water radical 氵 carries the meaning, and 定 gives the sound. It is the simplified form of 澱, in which the phonetic component is 殿. The water radical points to an aquatic setting, and the character originally denoted a shallow lake or stagnant body of water. Subsequently, its meaning extended to the physical process of particles settling out of a liquid, yielding senses such as sediment, dregs, and precipitate. This semantic shift ultimately led to its use in chemical terminology, most notably in the word 淀粉 (starch).

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

湖水在淀里很清澈。

Hú shuǐ zài diàn lǐ hěn qīngchè.

The lake water is very clear in the shallow lake.

淀边有棵古老的柳树。

Diàn biān yǒu kē gǔlǎo de liǔshù.

There is an ancient willow tree by the lakeshore.

时间能沉淀智慧与经验。

Shíjiān néng chéndiàn zhìhuì yǔ jīngyàn.

Time can precipitate wisdom and experience.

他需要沉淀下来认真思考。

Tā xūyào chéndiàn xiàlái rènzhēn sīkǎo.

He needs to settle down and think seriously.

这种食物富含淀粉。

Zhè zhǒng shíwù fùhán diànfěn.

This kind of food is rich in starch.

杯底有少量白色沉淀物。

Bēi dǐ yǒu shǎoliàng báisè chéndiànwù.

There is a small amount of white precipitate at the bottom of the cup.

白洋淀是华北的著名湿地。

Báiyángdiàn shì Huáběi de zhùmíng shīdì.

Baiyangdian is a famous wetland in North China.

地壳运动使古老的湖泊沉积岩得以淀积。

Dìqiào yùndòng shǐ gǔlǎo de húpō chénjīyán déyǐ diànjī.

Crustal movement allowed the ancient lake's sedimentary rocks to settle and accumulate.

Related Characters

Component: 定

Component: 氵

淀