溪

谿

xī

奚 + 氵

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

xī (noun) creek; stream

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 奚 represents the sound. Simplified form of 谿.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 奚

About

溪 is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic radical 氵 (water) on the left indicates an aquatic feature, while the right side, 奚 (xī), provides the pronunciation. The character specifically denotes a mountain stream or small river flowing through a valley. It emphasizes a continuous, shallow flow moving through a natural landscape, distinct from larger rivers or still water. This meaning has remained consistent throughout its history, and the character often appears in literary contexts to evoke serene natural scenery and the gentle persistence of water carving through terrain.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

小溪水很清。

Xiǎo xī shuǐ hěn qīng.

The stream water is very clear.

溪流声音很好听。

Xīliú shēngyīn hěn hǎotīng.

The sound of the stream is very pleasant.

公园里有一条小溪。

Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu yī tiáo xiǎo xī.

There is a small stream in the park.

溪水清澈，可以看到底。

Xīshuǐ qīngchè, kěyǐ kàn dào dǐ.

The stream water is clear, and you can see the bottom.

下雨后，溪水涨了很多。

Xià yǔ hòu, xīshuǐ zhǎngle hěnduō.

After the rain, the stream water rose a lot.

夏天，我们喜欢在溪边玩耍。

Xiàtiān, wǒmen xǐhuan zài xī biān wánshuǎ.

In summer, we like to play by the stream.

这条溪流从山上流下来，穿过森林。

Zhè tiáo xīliú cóng shān shàng liú xiàlái, chuānguò sēnlín.

This stream flows down from the mountain and passes through the forest.

由于污染，溪水的质量变差了。

Yóuyú wūrǎn, xīshuǐ de zhìliàng biàn chà le.

Due to pollution, the quality of the stream water has deteriorated.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 奚

Component: 氵

溪