About
As a phono-semantic compound, 溺 (nì) combines the water radical 氵 (shuǐ) on the left with the phonetic component 弱 (ruò) on the right. The water radical signals its core meaning related to liquid and submersion, while 弱 contributes to the pronunciation and historically hints at the vulnerability associated with drowning. Its primary meaning is to drown or be submerged in water, which extended metaphorically to describe being excessively addicted or indulged in a habit or vice. The character can also be pronounced "niào", serving as a variant for urine or urination, a meaning that still connects to the water radical's semantic domain.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
那个孩子溺水了。
她溺爱自己的儿子。
昨天有人溺水身亡。
由于洪水，溺水事故增多。
他被发现溺死在湖中。
请不要在深水区玩耍，以免溺水。
过度溺爱孩子会阻碍他们的成长。
尽管政府加强了安全教育，但夏季溺水事件仍时有发生。